On February 9, NYK started a biofuel* test run on its coal carrier Noshiro Maru (hereafter “the vessel”), which is operated for Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. This is the first time in Japan that a coal carrier has been used to test biofuel for a domestic power utility company. Mitsubishi Corporation Energy Co., Ltd. in the Keihin area facilitated the supply of biofuel for the vessel.

Biofuels are made from organic resources (biomass) of biological origin, such as agricultural residues and waste cooking oil, and are considered to produce virtually zero carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted.** Since they can be used in heavy-oil-powered ship engines, which are common on large merchant ships, biofuels are considered a key means of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transition period from heavy oil to zero-emission fuels.

Using biofuel to reduce GHG emissions during sea navigation also contributes to reducing Scope 3*** GHG emissions generated by transporting customers’ cargo. NYK will continue to focus on introducing biofuels and other next-generation fuels, and will contribute to reducing GHG emissions in our customers' supply chains while promoting decarbonization in marine transport.

* Biofuel
Vegetable oils are refined into biofuels, which are expected to be an alternative fuel to petroleum-derived heavy oil and light oil.

** Although biofuels emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) during combustion, the plants absorb CO₂ and reproduce biomass. Thus, CO₂ emissions during direct combustion are considered to be virtually zero, and biofuels are considered to be a fossil fuel substitute that can become carbon neutral.

*** Scope 3
Indirect GHG-emissions associated with an entire corporate supply chain, including emissions that occur across the supply chain and outside the organization's direct control, such as raw-material sourcing, product transport, product use, and disposal.