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Archives for September 2020

TT Club Underlines its Commitment to the Middle East Market

September 30, 2020 by

TT Club has appointed Abdul Fahl to take up the role of TTMS (Gulf) Director. The move follows the return to London from Dubai of Julien Horn who will continue in the position of Portfolio Underwriter for the Middle East, Eastern Med and African region and reiterates the TT’s long-standing commitment to provide insurance solutions and unique support for its regional Membership and brokers.

Dubai & London, 30th September, 2020

The TT Club is committed to its Middle East and African Membership and is looking to build upon the successful growth and enhanced local service achieved by Julien Horn during his time in Dubai.  Recognising the importance of a local contact and real-time assistance for its growing customer base in these regions, TT has announced the executive appointment of Abdul Fahl.

Abdul Fahl, TTMS (Gulf) Director

After six and a half years with TTMS(Gulf), the transport and logistics specialist’s well-established joint venture Network Partner in Dubai, Julien Horn has returned to TT’s headquarters in London to continue in his role as Portfolio Senior Underwriter, and leader of his underwriting team. Julien will be focused on ensuring Members continue to receive the highest level of quality and bespoke underwriting service across the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and African regions.

In announcing the move Mark Argentieri, TT Club’s Regional Director, EMEA said, “Julien has done a great job increasing TT’s presence in the region and providing on-the-spot support to our local Membership. He has strengthened relationships with not only our Members, but also brokers and local stakeholders, his success has led directly to an increase in our Membership in the region. As Julien returns to London to continue his underwriting duties, our team there will benefit hugely from his ‘on the ground’ experience.  His presence alongside his underwriters, will undoubtedly bring benefits to our goal of enhancing our tailored service.”

Julien Horn, Portfolio Underwriter for the Middle East, Eastern Med and African region

Abdul Fahl has now taken over from Julien as TTMS (Gulf) Director in Dubai. Abdul brings a wealth of diverse experience in both claims and legal affairs.  In addition to filling the roles of Claims Executive and Senior Claims Executive during his seven and a half year career at TT Club in London, Abdul has worked within the industry for a number of years at a major shipping line. Abdul has a master degree in maritime law and speaks Arabic, skills which we are confident will add further benefit to the region’s Members. Abdul will be spearheading the development of TT’s regional growth, while continuing the focus on local bespoke services to our existing Members and their brokers in the region.

Abdul’s past contributions to TT service have been many and varied; his claims handling, business development and extensive loss prevention work through seminars and more recently webinars have benefited both Members and the wider industry.  In his new position Abdul will drive forward a number of local initiatives in support of TT’s mission to make the transport and logistics industry safer and more secure.

“It is fantastic to have Abdul ready and able to step in to build upon Julien’s great work in the region” said Argentieri.  “His presence in Dubai, will assure Members of our continued drive for the very best standard of service for which TT has become rightly known.  In his new position, Abdul will be adept at introducing new ways to deliver added value and local service through vital local two-way communication to an expanding regional Membership.”

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 93% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

Filed Under: TT Club

GEODIS commits long term airfreight capacity to Asia-Europe corridor

September 24, 2020 by

As part of its AirDirect service, which is an own controlled network (OCN), leading global logistics provider GEODIS has confirmed a two-way schedule of flights from China to Europe and back, through to early 2021, guaranteeing its customers a regular & reliable service.

GEODIS originally instigated its full aircraft charter arrangements on this route in March with ad hoc flights and introduced a weekly timetable in June to meet the urgent need for air cargo capacity which had diminished due to the effects of the pandemic. Now, with both freighter and passenger belly-hold space still in short supply, the logistics provider has announced a permanent schedule reaching into next year.  Weekly direct flights will depart from Shanghai (PVG) every Monday and from Amsterdam (AMS) each Sunday to service what is expected to be a post-COVID resurgence in demand during what is traditionally a fourth quarter peak season.

The advent of the China-Europe-China service brings the company’s total investment in GEODIS’ OCN to over €70 million. More than 400 flights have been successfully completed across Asia, Europe, North and Latin America to date. Full details are available here: https://geodis.com/customer-advisory-bulletin

Among the customers requiring such a service are, in particular, a European auto manufacturer equipping its plant in China with sub-assembly parts.

In addition, Lenovo, a global leader in the manufacturing of personal computers, smartphones, workstations, computer servers and smart IoT devices, is one of GEODIS’ customers of its AirDirect Mexico service (Hong Kong/ Guadalajara) as well as its weekly direct flights from Shanghai-Amsterdam. GEODIS ensures the transportation of Lenovo’s products are safely and securely handled, helping Lenovo to deliver its components to factories and finished goods to customers in a timely manner.

“It is vital for our customers in China to be not only assured of regular capacity but also that their freight partner is controlling the transport service network, including flight operations,” says Onno Boots, GEODIS’ Regional President and CEO for Asia Pacific.  “As a growth partner for our customers, GEODIS understands this need well. The “Own Controlled Network” initiative is a prime example of how we are extending control of our multi-modal network. In addition, we are exploring options to establish a connection between China and India, as well as linking Hong Kong and Singapore in the network. These efforts aim to provide a hub that will seamlessly link with our GEODIS Asia Road Network.”

“Both the Amsterdam and Shanghai hubs are ideal for coordinating multi-origin and destination cargoes.  Our network of operations in Europe, as well as Asia is designed to maximize connectivity, giving our customers full flexibility in terms of pick-up and delivery points,” says Stanislas Brun, SVP Global Air Freight.  “The regularity and reliability of this newly-established service, coupled with the visibility provided by our IRIS systems technology*, will help manufacturers and retailers rejuvenate their business as the global economy recovers post-COVID.  We hope to help them prevent further supply chain disruption and reduce the inevitable temptation to increase buffer stock, with its consequent costs.”

*Editor’s Note:  IRIS gives GEODIS customers information on the real-time status of their shipments in addition to access to relevant documentation; label printing when appropriate; exception management through ‘mile-stone’ alerts and KPI reporting. The automated booking system ensures data accuracy and saves time.  It also enables customers to review local charges and full end-to-end costs; arrange pick-ups and final mile deliveries and details of all port-to-port rates are available through the pricing engine.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com 

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide. In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line : Naming Ceremony Held for Japan’s First LNG Bunkering Vessel

September 21, 2020 by

On September 16, a naming ceremony was held at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. for Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel (“LBV”).

The ceremony was attended by Masashi Asakura, Chief Officer for Production Group of Toyota Motor Corporation (head office: Toyota city, Aichi prefecture; President: Akio Toyoda); Masahiro Kato, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, Ports and Harbors Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; and a number of related parties.

LBV was named “Kaguya” by Yukikazu Myochin, President of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K-Line”), and Hitoshi Nagasawa, President of Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (“NYK”), and the ceremonial rope holding LBV in place was cut by Sunao Nakamura, Managing Executive Officer of JERA Co., Inc. (“JERA”) , and Toshiro Hidaka, CEO for Machinery, Energy & Project Division of Toyota Tsusho Corporation (“Toyota Tsusho”).

LBV’s name, Kaguya, derives from Princess Kaguya in “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,” which is said to be Japan’s oldest story and is still loved by many people today. The name also expresses our desire to grow the LNG bunkering market as long and high as a bamboo tree.

Kaguya is the first LNG bunkering vessel to be operated in Japan. Kaguya will be operated by Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation and will be based at JERA’s Kawagoe Thermal Power Station. Kaguya will begin supplying LNG fuel* to ships in the Chubu region in October or later this year using Ship-to-Ship bunkering.**

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed on a goal to reduce GHG emissions from shipping by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared to 2008, and the delivery of LNG-fueled ships is expected in the future. After the start of operation, Kaguya will supply LNG to Sakura Leader, which is the first large LNG-fueled PCTC (pure car and truck carrier) operated by NYK, and to a new car carrier to be delivered by K-Line this fiscal year, as well as to other LNG-fueled vessels.

The expertise and strengths of each company — including K-Line’s technological expertise accumulated through its long-term LNG carrier operations, JERA’s operational and technical capabilities at its large-scale terminals, Toyota Tsusho’s global sales network for marine fuel, and NYK’s experience in the world’s first LNG fuel supply and sales business — will be utilized to provide LNG bunkering in Japan’s Chubu region and expand our marketing services to promote the use of LNG as a fuel for ships, thereby contributing to a reduction of our environmental impact.

Filed Under: "K" Line

Global Groups Collaborate on Container Safety Improvements

September 14, 2020 by

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT

On behalf of Container Owners Association, Global Shippers Forum, ICHCA International, TT Club, World Shipping Council

1600 BST Monday 14 September 2020

Five international freight transport and cargo handling organisations are collaborating on the production of new guidance on packing standards for freight containers and other cargo transport units.   The Container Owners Association, the Global Shippers Forum, the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association, the TT Club and the World Shipping Council are co-operating on a range of activities to further the adoption and implementation of crucial safety practices throughout the global supply chain. 

As part of this longstanding cooperation, the five organisations have today published a ‘Quick Guide’ to the United Nations sponsored Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (the CTU Code), together with a Checklist of actions and responsibilities for the guidance of those undertaking the packing of cargoes in freight containers specifically.

Dedicated to improving the safety, security and environmental performance throughout the logistics supply chain, one of the aims of this collaboration is to promote awareness and wider use of the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units – the CTU Code.

There have been several widely reported container fires aboard ships, where containerised cargoes may have been the cause of, or contributed to, such fires. The organisations believe that consistent, widespread and diligent adherence to the CTU Code by all parties within global CTU supply chains would significantly reduce these types of incidents, some of which have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries amongst ships’ crews and shore-side staff.

Other occurrences, such as container stack failures, vehicle roll-overs, train derailments, internal cargo collapses and incidents of invasive pest contamination, can also be traced to poor packing practices. The organisations believe that a greater awareness of the CTU Code and the packing practices and techniques it contains will help to reduce such incidents.

To do this the organisations are working together as the Cargo Integrity Group and have identified the following four areas of activity to raise the awareness and improve understanding of safe cargo packing practices:

  1. Promoting awareness and adoption of the CTU Code, of which the guidance material published today is an example.
  2. Seeking changes in regulatory requirements to improve their clarity, application, implementation and enforcement, including to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.Monitoring of CTU packing performance through support for strengthened cargo screening
  3. processes and more effective container inspection regimes
  4. Working with other industry and governmental stakeholders in promoting awareness and better understanding of safe cargo packing and handling practices.

The five organisations each commented on today’s announcements:

Improving understanding of the CTU Code’s many requirements is central to the work of the group, as Capt. Richard Brough OBE of ICHCA International explains:

“A key objective of our mission is promoting awareness of the CTU Code. We have a dedicated set of outcomes designed to achieve this aim, which begins with the publication of our ‘CTU Code – a Quick Guide’. We want the Code to be as accessible to as many operatives as possible and hope this Quick Guide will encourage them to learn how the Code can be applied to their own particular needs.”

Lars Kjaer from WSC comments on another of the Group’s objectives,

“We believe it is important to pro-actively review and, where needed, revise existing regulatory provisions to enhance ship, crew and worker safety,” he explains. “For example, working closely with other partners, we have been able to ensure the launching of a considered review of the maritime Special Provisions in the IMO’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. Such Special Provisions may today lead to exemptions from the Code’s safety and documentary requirements with the result that the carrier may not be able to take necessary precautionary measures.”

Other significant steps have been made in recent months with initiatives to screen cargo effectively, particularly responding to the concerns over the mis-declaration of shipments.

“Carriers have been advancing their capability to screen cargo at the time of booking in order to combat the curses of error and fraud that cause misdeclarations and unacceptable risk for the industry,” says TT Club’s Peregrine Storrs-Fox. “Such actions can also support and empower industry and government sponsored container inspection programmes that are fundamental to improving good practice and understanding how regulations actually operate. It is thus part of CIG’s third objective to participate in the ongoing revision of the IMO Circular regarding container inspection programmes and support related industry cargo screening initiatives.”

Uffe Ernst-Frederiksen of the Container Owners Association commented on a further key aspect of the new documents:

“The IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code describes in chapter 4 the roles and responsibilities of parties in the container supply chain for the safe packing, handling, stowage and transport of containers and the correct reporting of their actual weights”

“However, often overlooked is that the CTU Code also deals with supply chain parties’ responsibilities to minimize visible pest contamination from containers and their cargoes. It is therefore appropriate that the material we are publishing today draws attention to this important issue, stressing that minimizing pest contamination of containers and their cargoes is a shared responsibility. Our material also makes reference to guidance material recently developed and published by the IPPC’s Sea Container Task Force of which COA is a member that aims at assisting parties in the containerized supply chains in trying to ensure that containers and their cargoes remain free from visible pest contamination. One of the key objectives of the SCTF is to promote voluntary government-industry cooperation on minimizing pest contamination of CTUs. Our five organizations fully support this objective and call on all parties in the international containerized supply chains to actively support and participate in such voluntary programs, and to play their role in meeting the objective of minimizing visible pest contamination.”

Perhaps the greatest challenge in minimising cargo-related issues is that of creating the necessary awareness throughout the huge number of businesses active in the shipment of goods by intermodal container and other types of cargo transport units. Connecting with other stakeholders, and through them with the wider industry and governmental agencies, is the fourth objective of the Group. James Hookham of GSF says,

“Today is a marker on a journey to raise wider awareness of this critical issue across the globe and adoption of safe practices. Our organisations cannot do this on their own and we are reaching out to other bodies in the supply chain and in governmental agencies to join with us in promoting high standards of the packing of all cargo transport units and understanding the inter-connectedness of differing objectives”.

The organisations would welcome the support and active assistance from other representative bodies, individual companies and governmental agencies committed to supporting and achieving the four objectives. Contact can be made through any of the organisations listed below.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The five organisations co-operating in the Cargo integrity Group are:

• Container Owners Association (COA)
Media Contact: Patrick Hicks, Secretary, Container Owners Association,
secretary@containerownersassociation.org

• Global Shippers Forum (GSF)
Media contact: James Hookham, Secretary General, jhookham@globalshippersforum.com
Tel: +44 7818 45 04 40

• International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association (ICHCA International)
Media contact: Peter Owen, Portcare International, info@portcare.com
Tel: +44 1737 248300

• TT Club
Media contact: Peter Owen, Portcare International, info@portcare.com
Tel: +44 1737 248300

• World Shipping Council (WSC)
Media contact: Anne Marie Kappel, Vice President, Strategy & Communication,
akappel@worldshipping.org Tel: +1 202 589 1235

Filed Under: TT Club

“K” Line Press Release: Launch of Kobe/Kansai Hydrogen Utilization Council

September 7, 2020 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director, President and CEO: Yukikazu Myochin, hereinafter ‘“K”LINE’) is pleased to announce that “K”LINE has participated in the “Kobe/Kansai Hydrogen Utilization Council” founded together with the companies involved in various hydrogen-related projects with the goal of the implementation of a hydrogen society as well as development of hydrogen supply-chain in the Kobe/Kansai area.

Kansai area is one of the most advanced area in the world where various world’s leading projects concerning hydrogen supply and utilization are currently underway including the hydrogen supply chain pilot project with the effective utilization of brown coal in Australia conducted by CO₂-free Hydrogen Energy Supply-chain Technology Research Association (“HySTRA”), demonstration project of hydrogen cogeneration system (“Hydrogen CGS”) at Kobe Port Island, and investigation on the possibilities for the introduction of hydrogen-fueled power generation.

In order to accelerate these efforts to achieve a hydrogen society as well as “Basic Hydrogen Strategy” and “Strategic Roadmap for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells” published by the Japanese government, the companies promoting hydrogen-related business have joined and founded the Council. The member will conduct feasibility study in pursuit of the large-scale utilization of hydrogen in 2030’s by way of unifying experience acquired through existing projects and business resources owned by companies operating in Kobe/Kansai area. The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (“NEDO”), and Kobe City which is participating in Hydrogen CGS will support the activity of the Council as observers.

In pursuit of our goal, placing the roadmap to implement large-scale commercialized utilization of hydrogen in 2030 as well as formulating a concrete scheme for the verification of commercial utilization of hydrogen in 2025, the Council’s activities will include:

  • Consideration on business models of hydrogen utilization in Kansai area through combined study from supply and demand sides to develop large-scale hydrogen supply chain.
  • Building a road map for the implementation of hydrogen utilization business models in the Kansai area.
  • Policy proposal to the national and local governments, by identifying issues towards the implementation of a hydrogen society.

“K”LINE Group have been promoting its efforts towards the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with its long-term guideline concerning environment “K”LINE Environmental Vision 2050 -Blue Sea for the Future-”. “K”LINE will devote its utmost effort to contribute in realization of carbon-free society through the activities of the Council to implement CO2-free hydrogen in society in 2030, besides our participation in HySTRA in 2019.

Founding Member (Alphabetical order)

Electric Power Development Co., Ltd., ENEOS Corporation, Iwatani Corporation (*), The Kansai Electric Power Company, Inc., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), Kobe Steel, Ltd., Marubeni Corporation (*), Mitsubishi Power, Ltd., Obayashi Corporation, and Shell Japan Limited.

(* Lead)

Filed Under: "K" Line

TT Club’s Signposts to a Digital Future

September 2, 2020 by

Leading freight transport and logistics insurer TT Club is reflecting the evolving digital landscape in its new logo and revamped website. Increased accessibility to data, information and streamlined processes are the key aims of the insurance specialist’s investments in digitisation

London, 2nd September, 2020

Although COVID-19 has accelerated digitalisation, TT had already embarked on its path to digital transformation.  Planned investment has now reached a stage were TM Connect has improved on the existing ClaimsTrac tool and a new website has allowed increased access to TT’s valued loss prevention advisory services.  Such digital advances will increasingly allow TT to work in more innovative ways, adding value for its insured through the application of robotics, artificial intelligence, mining big data and other digital functionality.

As part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2019, TT undertook to investigate what the next 25 years in the international logistics industry would bring. What it found was profound changes in the use of digital services*. “In responding to these findings our investment is taking increasing advantage of digital opportunities to enhance the customer facing elements of our business namely underwriting, claims fulfilment and loss prevention,” explained Charles Fenton, TT’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our new logo reflects TT’s focus on the digital sphere, by adapting the logo to work seamlessly in the on and offline world.”

TT Club’s risk management role, delivered through its loss prevention advisory service, is crucial to the protection of client’s operations across the multi-modal transport industry. The new website is in part designed to assist the access to such information, ensuring TT’s wealth of loss prevention articles and publications is available to not only its insured, but the industry as a whole. TT continues to explore multi-media channels through which to distribute their advice, including the new website, social media, TT’s series of successful seminars and its recently introduced programme of webinars.

TT’s investment in digitisation looks not only to improve access to loss prevention materials, but also to better aid its Members with the management of their insurance. Available via its website, TM Connect is TT’s new online services platform, developed by TT Club’s managers Thomas Miller. It is designed to enhance online accessibility to services and data for Members and their brokers. “TM Connect affords 24/7 access to all insurance documents, whether it is policies, payments and debit notes, premium balances or claims records. Indeed, the portal acts as successor to TT’s venerated ClaimsTrac and undoubtedly represents the future of communication with our Members” said Fenton.

These latest investments by TT Club are clear signposts to a digital future in which the technological opportunities that continue to present themselves will be investigated. TT intends to further exploit such opportunities as appropriate to better serve its clients as they tackle the dynamic challenges constantly presented throughout the global supply chain.

*The investigation’s report entitled ‘Brave New World’ can be found here

ENDS

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 93% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

www.ttclub.com

Filed Under: TT Club

GEODIS Offers e-Commerce brands a new direct-to-customer intercontinental delivery service

September 2, 2020 by

[INTERNATIONAL E-COMMERCE]

To provide European consumers with reliable delivery at an affordable price from North America, GEODIS is launching a new, guaranteed 4-to-6-day B2C delivery service from the United States to 27 European countries for companies seeking to develop their international online sales.

Although more and more web users are now visiting commercial websites located abroad, they often abandon their purchase halfway through the process due to high shipping costs, delivery times seen as too long, customs fees and taxes that are not revealed until after payment or even the lack of a clear return policy.

To overcome these hurdles, GEODIS is launching “GEODIS MyParcel”, a direct-to-customer intercontinental delivery service with guaranteed delivery times at a lower cost.  “With the explosive growth of international e-Commerce, our customers want to offer consumers a premium service at a completely transparent price,” explains Manoj Pankaj, Vice President Cross-Border e-Commerce of GEODIS.

This new end-to-end service, called “GEODIS MyParcel”, will initially ship small packages from the United States to the end consumer in 27 European countries within 4 to 6 days. The service is to be progressively expanded globally. It includes validation of delivery addresses and merchandise HS codes[1], a tax and customs duty calculator (displayed throughout the payment process), as well as an option to reschedule delivery, and shipment tracking at all key stages.

With GEODIS MyParcel, GEODIS provides brands with a simple, innovative way to launch or increase their E-commerce sales on a global scale. “We are helping them to develop to their full potential in new markets by strengthening their international field of action” says Ashwani Nath, Global Head of e-Channel Solutions of GEODIS. “In the coming months we will be adding new geographical areas, both in terms of destinations and countries of origin as part of our global e-Commerce strategy”.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com

GEODIS is a top-rated, global supply chain operator recognized for its commitment to helping clients overcome their logistical constraints. GEODIS’ growth-focused offerings (Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and Road Transport) coupled with the company’s truly global reach thanks to a direct presence in 67 countries, and a global network spanning 120 countries, translates in top business rankings, #1 in France, #6 in Europe and #7 worldwide.

In 2019, GEODIS accounted for over 41,000 employees globally and generated €8.2 billion in sales.

[1] HS code: Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System. The Harmonized System is an international nomenclature for the classification of products. It allows participating countries to classify traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes.

Filed Under: GEODIS

World’s First Small-scale CO2 Capture Plant on Vessel ~ “CC-Ocean” (Carbon Capture on the Ocean) Project ~

September 1, 2020 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) announces it will deploy a small-scale, marine-use demonstration plant for CO2 capture onboard a vessel and conduct research and development on compact facility design, in collaboration with project partners Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (“Mitsubishi Shipbuilding”) and non-profit organization Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (“ClassNK”).


Small-scale CO2 Capture demonstration Plant

The project is supported by the Maritime Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (“MLIT”) as part of its programs to support research and development for advancing marine resources technologies. With the support of MLIT, “K” Line will collaborate with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and ClassNK to install a small-scale CO2 capture demonstration plant onboard its vessel, conduct test operations of the plant, and measure its performance.

The marine-use CO2 capture demonstration plant will be based on an onshore plant and designed to capture a portion of a vessel’s gas emissions. This project will not only verify the efficacy of capturing and storing CO2 from a vessel’s gas emissions, but also the operability and safety of CO2 capture facilities at sea. These demonstration tests are aimed at promoting the development of more compact equipment required by marine environments along with the development of system requirements necessary for stable continuous operation at sea.

The two-year project will begin in August 2020 with the launch of a HAZID (hazard identification) evaluation of the demonstration plant and deployment on vessels, with verification from ClassNK. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will begin development and construction of a small-scale CO2 capture demonstration plant and evaluation of system safety. In the middle of 2021, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will begin test operation of the demonstration plant at its factory, followed by deployment of the plant on “K” Line’s CORONA UTILITY, a thermal coal carrier operated for Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. By the end of fiscal 2021, the project partners will start operating the demonstration plant on-board the vessel and measuring the system’s performance under marine conditions, with the aim of jointly developing a new marine system for vessels.

As the world’s first marine demonstration test, the project will provide invaluable insights into facilities design and technologies for capturing CO2 emissions and achieving zero emissions onboard vessels. Additionally, the captured CO2 is expected to be recycled as a new CO2 source for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) processes or as raw material in synthetic fuel through methanation. In this way, the project will significantly contribute to the long-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Through “CC-Ocean” and other projects, “K” Line is committed to the research, development and deployment of cutting-edge environmental technologies. Through these projects, “K” Line will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve its Environmental Vision 2050, and work on activities for social contribution.

About logo “CC-Ocean”

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a emission reduction process by capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the use of fossil fuels to prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere.  The design of the logo is from initials of Carbon Capture on the Ocean and represents capturing molecular of carbon dioxide inside.

Filed Under: "K" Line