NYK vessel carrying Kobe Steel cargo powers journey from Japan to Australia with marine biofuel

Photo: NYK

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) announced Aug. 21 that Toyota Tsusho Marine Fuels Corp. supplied biodiesel fuel in late July using ship-to-ship transfer to the bulk carrier Sunrise Serenity at the port of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

The vessel consumed the biodiesel-based marine biofuel on its route to the port of Newcastle, Australia.

Sunrise Serenity carries cargoes for Kobe Steel.

The ship is operated and managed by NYK Group’s Asahi Shipping and jointly owned by NYK and Asahi Shipping.

This test voyage was a joint effort by the three companies—NYK, Asahi Shipping and Kobe Steel—each with its own aim:

• NYK has a long-term goal to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in its oceangoing businesses to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050

• Asahi Shipping aims to decarbonize marine transport in its supply chain

• Kobe Steel aims for a sustainable society through integrated efforts to promote a low-carbon, recycling-based society

The three companies expect the test voyage will contribute to spreading the biofuel supply chain in the Kansai and Setouchi areas.

Biofuels can be used in marine engines as an alternative to heavy oil.

They are made from organic resources (biomass) derived from living organisms and are considered to have virtually zero CO2 emissions when burned.

Biofuels emit CO2 during combustion, but since plants—the raw material—absorb CO2 and reproduce biomass, NYK noted that CO2 emissions from their direct combustion are considered virtually zero.

Biofuels are attracting attention as an alternative to fossil fuels that can be carbon neutral.

NYK said it, Asahi Shipping, and Kobe Steel will share the knowledge from this test voyage to promote decarbonization initiatives.