K Line trials biofuel blend on tugboat

Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has conducted a trial of a biofuel blend on a tugboat in Nagoya Port, Japan.

PHOTO: K Line’s tugboat Aihomaru being supplied with biofuel blend. K Line

The trial was conducted on the tugboat, Aihomaru, which was bunkered with a biofuel blend of heavy fuel oil (HFO) and biodiesel made from waste cooking oil. However, it did not disclose the ratio of biofuel to HFO - which has big implications for its carbon emission reduction potential.

The biofuel blend was supplied by Japan-based Toyotsu Energy and delivered to the tugboat through ship-to-ship (STS) method.

The biofuel blend “can be used without changing the specifications of existing marine diesel engines,” K Line claims.

The move is line with K Line’s “target of 50% improvement in CO2 emission efficiency in comparison with 2008.”

By Tuhin Roy

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