K Line’s third successful trial using marine biofuel

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has carried out the third successful trial using marine biofuel.
The trial used B24 marine biofuel comprising 24% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) blended with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).
This was supplied by bp to the capesize bulker Cape Tsubaki with the co-operation of the charterer, JFE Steel Corporation.
K Line has been accumulating expertise on the operation and the use of the marine biofuels.
The vessel was supplied with the biofuel in Singapore on 26 November.
In December, 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 greenhouse gas emissions reduction of about 80 – 90% in the well-to-wake (from fuel generation to consumption) process without changing current engine specifications.
In addition to this trial, K Line already has conducted the same kind of trial use of marine biofuel for a supramax bulker for carrying hot-rolled steel coils with JFE Steel Corporation. The company aims to contribute the decarbonisation of all of the marine transportation in the customer’s supply chain.