Toyota Tsusho launches Japan’s 1st continuous supply of marine biofuel on commercial basis

The Toyofuji Maru is using biodiesel-blended marine fuel supplied by Toyotsu Energy. (Photo: Toyofuji Shipping)

Toyota Tsusho Corp. announced May 10 that, together with group company Toyotsu Energy Corp., it launched Japan’s first continuous supply of biodiesel-blended fuel on a commercial basis to ships operated by Toyofuji Shipping Co. Ltd. at the Port of Nagoya in April.

This launch follows repeated marine biofuel supply trials for ships that Toyota Tsusho conducted at the Port of Nagoya, as well as studies into its effectiveness and practical application.

Toyota Tsusho conducted its first trial operation of marine biofuel at the Port of Singapore in April 2021.

Since then, it has conducted verification tests for the commercialization of biofuel, such as its effectiveness and supply operations.

This included marine biofuel supply trials at the Port of Nagoya from April 2022 using ship-to-ship bunkering, a method of fueling tugboats and coastal trading vessels operating within the port by a fuel-supply ship sideways.

The continuous supply launched last month is being made by Toyotsu Energy to Toyofuji Shipping’s car carrier Toyofuji Maru, a coastal trading vessel, with which Toyotsu Energy has been conducting supply trials using ship-to-ship bunkering.

Toyota Tsusho, in cooperation with Daiseki Eco. Solution Co. Ltd., is continuing to procure waste cooking oil collected from the employee cafeterias and other facilities of Toyota Group and Toyota Tsusho Group companies, which is being refined and blended with heavy oil as part of the raw materials used for the biofuel being supplied.

The shipping industry accounts for about 2 percent of global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions.

In 2018, the International Maritime Organization adopted a GHG-reduction strategy, setting a target to reduce GHG emissions to 50 percent of 2008 levels by 2050.

Hydrogen and ammonia are seen as promising options in the medium to long term, but they involve large investments and technological development.

Thus, biofuels are seen as promising for decarbonization in the immediate future.

The realization of this supply is the first step in establishing a supply chain and regular use of biofuels in Japan, helping to promote carbon neutrality in the shipping industry.

Toyota Tsusho is aiming to further promote and expand the use of biofuels and will aim to increase the volume of biofuels handled at this port as well as conduct verification tests at other ports in the future.