Mitsui OSK Lines, Euglena Co. conduct marine biofuel sea trial in Port of Nagoya, Japan

Photo: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. and Tokyo-based Euglena Co. Ltd. announced a successful sea trial in the Port of Nagoya of the MOL Group-operated tugboat 13 Tamashio using next-generation renewable biodiesel fuel developed by Euglena Co.

The test was conducted with the cooperation of the Nagoya Port Authority. The 13 Tamashio is owned and operated by MOL Group company Green Kaiji Kaisha Ltd. Tugboats play vital roles in the maritime industry, assisting vessels calling in and out of ports, berthing and unberthing, and operation of floating structures.

The Euglena biodiesel fuel used in the test was transported from Euglena Co., the demonstration plant for production of bio jet/diesel fuels in Yokohama and supplied to the 13 Tamashio in berth at the Nagoya Port Garden Pier.

Euglena biodiesel fuel is a next-generation renewable fuel produced with used cooking oil and Euglena, a type of algae similar to brown seaweed and sea tangle. Marine diesel engines can run on this next-generation fuel with no modifications. Euglena biodiesel fuel is a low-environmental impact fuel, which conforms to SOx regulations* because, unlike conventional heavy fuel oil, it contains no sulfur, a major source of air pollution. It also produces significantly lower levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) during combustion compared to fossil-derived fuels.

MOL views its contributions to environmental conservation as a social commitment, and the entire MOL Group is working to address global environmental issues. In activities focusing group-wide efforts on achieving sustainable net-zero GHG emissions, and conducted the sea trial using the low-environmental impact Euglena biodiesel fuel.

MOL and Euglena Co. are working to reduce the maritime industry’s environmental impact and realize a sustainable global society, while moving ahead with environment-friendly activities.

*Regulations on the sulfur content of bunker oil used in the ocean shipping industry. Starting in 2020, stricter regulations reduce the maximum sulfur content from 3.5 to 0.5 percent.