“K” LINE conducts third biofuel bunker trial on bulker “Cape Tsubaki”
- Published
by Admin
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) on Wednesday (22 February) said it has conducted the trial use of B24 marine biofuel which was supplied by integrated energy company bp to the Capesize bulker Cape Tsubaki.
This is the third successful trial use of marine biofuel, comprising 24% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) blended with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), by a “K” LINE vessel, with the cooperation of charterer JFE Steel Corporation.
The vessel was supplied with the biofuel bunker in Singapore on 26 November 2022. In December 2022, after completing the loading of Iron Ore at Ponta da Madeira, the vessel started consuming the biofuel while navigating to the discharging port in Kawasaki.
In this trial, biofuel had been stored for two months in a tank, and the biofuel 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 GHG emissions reduction of about 80-90% in the well-to-wake (from fuel generation to consumption) process without changing current engine specifications.
“K” LINE previously conducted the same kind of trial use of marine biofuel for a Supramax bulker for carrying hot-rolled steel coils with JFE Steel Corporation.
Photo credit: Marine Traffic / Dean Salundaguit
Published: 23 February, 2023
