Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) says that its first all-electric zero-emission tanker will play a vital part in the MOL Groups carbon offset scheme, using ‘J Blue Credit’ issued by Japan Blue Economy Association (JBE) an association approved by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The J Blue Credit targets blue carbon, i.e. CO2 absorbed by marine and coastal ecosystems such as seagrass meadows, and is attracting attention as a new credit aimed at accelerating steps to mitigate climate change. The project began on a trial basis in fiscal year 2020, and in its second year, FY2021, credits were issued through restoration activities of seagrass meadow and tidal flats in Yokohama City, at the Port of Tokuyama Kudamatsu in Shunan City, and Hyogo Canal.
MOL will contribute to enhancing the implementation and sustainability of initiatives to restore and protect seagrass meadow in each area through purchase of credits for about 11 tons, among the total of about 65 tons of credits issued. Blue carbon ecosystems such as seagrass meadow not only fix and absorb carbon, but can provide diverse benefits including food supply, water purification, and species conservation.
MOL-purchased credits are planned to offset CO2 emitted from the first zero emission electric tanker Asahi, being built for MOL Group company Asahi Tanker, and scheduled for delivery at the end of March 2022, as it is repositioned from the shipyard in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture to Kawasaki City in Kanagawa Prefecture where the power supply facility is located. In future, the vessel will contribute to CO2 reduction of about 280t, 60% (Estimated values) annually compared to conventional vessels by using renewable energy-derived electricity. MOL strives to expand its use of electric propulsion vessels in coastal shipping in cooperation with Asahi Tanker.
