K Line conducts 3rd successful trial use of marine biofuel

K Line powered a capesize bulker similar to the one shown above on B24 marine biofuel, hauling iron ore from Brazil to Japan for JFE Steel Corp. (Photo: K Line)

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (K Line) announced Feb. 22 that it has conducted the trial use of B24 marine biofuel comprising 24 percent fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) blended with very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO), which was supplied by integrated energy company BP to the capesize bulker Cape Tsubaki with the cooperation of the charterer, JFE Steel Corp.

This is third successful trial use of marine biofuel by a K Line vessel in the company’s pursuit to accumulate expertise on the operation and use of biofuels.

The vessel was supplied with the biofuel Nov. 26 in Singapore.

In December, after completing the loading of iron ore at Ponta da Madeira, Brazil, the vessel started consuming the biofuel while navigating to the discharging port in Kawasaki, Japan.

In this trial, the biofuel had been stored for two months in a tank and was used for the long voyage after storage without any large problems.

The FAME component of the marine biofuel blend used in this trial enabled a reduction of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by between 80 percent and 90 percent in the well-to-wake process without changing current engine specifications.

In addition to this trial, K Line has already conducted the same kind of trial use of marine biofuel for a supramax bulker for carrying hot-rolled steel coils with JFE Steel.

Now K Line has also conducted this trial for their raw-material shipments.

K Line aims to contribute the decarbonization of all the marine transportation in its customer supply chains.

In its 2050 environmental vision, K Line set the 2030 interim target of improving CO2 emissions efficiency by 50 percent compared with 2008, surpassing the International Maritime Organization’s target of a 40 percent improvement. Furthermore, K Line set its new target for 2050 as achieving net-zero GHG emissions.

“As an action plan, we will continue to work on the introduction of new fuels that have a low environmental impact and take on the challenge of achieving the targets we have established,” K Line stated.