"K" Line

The launch ceremony for the liquefied CO2 transportation demonstration test ship was held today, 28th March 2023 at the Shimonoseki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Corporation (Mitsubishi Shipbuilding”).

At the launch ceremony, participants from related organizations including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, NEDO (the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) and the ship owner, Sanyu Kisen were on hand to offer their congratulation for the safe launch of the ship. The ceremonial rope was cut by Mrs. Noriko Ishizaki, the wife of the Nippon Gas Line Co., Ltd. (NGL, in charge of management and operation of the demonstration test ship) representative while all participants looked on.

This demonstration test ship hull will be equipped with the liquefied CO2 tank system researched and developed by the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (ENAA). After completion, the demonstration test ship will be engaged in liquefied CO2 transportation for the CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project, the Large-scale CCUS Demonstration in Tomakomai, the Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation, the R&D and Demonstration Project for the Marine Transportation of CO2 (hereinafter the “Demonstration Projects”) which have been conducted by NEDO since June 2021.

ENAA, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), NGL, and Ochanomizu University will accelerate their research and development of the LCO2 transportation technology and contribute to the reduction of the cost of CCUS technology and realization of LCO2 safe large-scale long-distance transportation.

ENAA has been engaged in research and development towards the operation of a demonstration ship equipped with a liquefied carbon dioxide ship tank system, and it will continue to be responsible for the planning, analysis and supervision of the demonstration test.

“K” LINE carried out a risk assessment of the demonstration test ship in the safety evaluation in 2022 and will contribute to the development of an operation manual for the demonstration vessels.

NGL is proceeding with the planning of the management and operation of the demonstration vessel. In addition, NGL is conducting a case study of its own LPG vessel in preparation for the measurement of data related to the temperature, pressure, flow, etc. of the CO2 on the demonstration vessel.

Ochanomizu University conducts fundamental research on the control of the state of carbon dioxide (phase changes) and provide the information necessary for safe transportation studies.

ENAA, “K” LINE, NGL, and Ochanomizu University will contribute to the realization of a carbon neutral society through this demonstration project.

General Specifications

Cargo tank capacity:        1,450 m³

Overall length:                   72.0 m

Breadth:                               12.5 m

Draft:                                    4.55 m

Related releases

June 22, 2021: Participation in R&D and demonstration project for CO2 marine transportation

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/Liquefied_gas8511561127992992679/main/0/link/210622EN.pdf

February 2, 2022: NEDO Demonstration Project: The World’s First Demonstration Test Ship for Liquefied CO2 Transportation to be Built

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/Liquefied_gas-7680599579843084358/main/0/link/220202EN.pdf

October 7, 2022: NEDO Demonstration Project: Demonstration Test Ship for Liquefied CO2 Transportation has broken ground

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/carbon-neutral/carbon-neutral-239031784827641936/main/0/link/221007EN.pdf

“K” Line Tokyo Head Office issued the following press releases today:

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/

This press release is available on the website both in English and Japanese. 

～Autonomous Ship with Safe and Intelligent Supporting Technology～

Introduction movie of “Navigation Support System” was posted on “K” LINE’s YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/LtUSsx_0OcAvv

“K” LINE has combined the knowledge and insights concerning safe operations accumulated over the years with cutting-edge technology to support the crew and reduce their burden, “K” LINE is working to further increase safety and to realize autonomous navigation in the future.

We will introduce the navigation support system using AI and other advanced technology that is currently being developed under the lead of “K” LINE and Japan Radio Co., Ltd.

*About K-Assist project

Please refer to page 44 in “K” LINE Report 2022

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/ir/library/report/main/011113/teaserItems1/0/linkList/0/link/KLR22E_all_A3.pdf

Related Release : November 2, 2021: Starts Joint R&D on Integrated Navigation Support System Using AI and Other Cutting-edge Technologies

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/other/other2181208725925120084/main/0/link/211102EN.pdf

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) held a global IT conference, aimed at driving its digital transformation (DX) strategy and strengthening security, at its head office in early March.

Approximately 40 IT/DX experts from major business locations in “K” LINE’s global network in 16 countries and regions gathered for the conference. With the president, CIO, people from the Digitalization Strategy Group, and representatives from “K” Line Business Systems Co., Ltd., the participants held lively discussions and workshops themed on DX projects in each country based on the DX strategy, including a robust IT infrastructure that permits more than 5,400 employees of the “K” LINE Group to work with peace of mind, as well as advanced security measures that reassure customers with their reliability.

Many of the participants noted that sharing the achievements from DX projects will help improve customer services at each location and that reinforcing the IT infrastructure is essential not only internally but also for participating in the marine transportation and logistics ecosystem. They reaffirmed that it is support for enhancing “K” LINE’s core values of safety, environmental conservation, and quality in the IT/DX field that leads to higher corporate value. They also reconfirmed that the head office and business locations in the global network would cooperate even more strongly to further accelerate the improvement of the IT/DX environment in each country or region.

“K” LINE is driving digitalization as a functional strategy for achieving its business strategy under the Medium-term Management Plan announced in May 2022. The company will continue to bolster its corporate value and solve social issues in the IT/DX field as well, aiming to be a group of marine transportation professionals that reassure stakeholders with their reliability.

Reference

DX Strategy of “K” LINE announced in December 2022

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/sustainability/dx_strategy.html

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that the company was recognized as “Supplier Engagement Leader” for five consecutive years, the top rating, on “Supplier Engagement Rating” from CDP, which is a non-profit global organization engaging in activities for investigating and disclosing environmental information, on March 15th.

“Supplier Engagement Rating” evaluates the companies’ initiatives for climate change and greenhouse gas emissions throughout the supply chain and ranks the companies in line with their efforts. Our strategies and initiatives were evaluated on “Supplier Engagement Rating”.

This year 653 companies, including 130 Japanese companies, out of approximately 8,200 companies were awarded as “Supplier Engagement Leaderboard” worldwide. 

As a globally trusted logistics company rooted in the shipping industry, “K” LINE Group will continue to work to reduce its environmental impact in order to realize a sustainable society and increase its corporate value, based on its corporate philosophy of “contributing to the enrichment of people’s lives”.

REFERENCES

December 14, 2022: “K” LINE Selected for the 7th consecutive year on the “A List”

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/csr/csr4387686973587805703/main/0/link/221214EN.pdf

February 6, 2023: “K” LINE Posted CEO Message as CDP2022 “A List” Company

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/csr/csr284167388746905686/main/0/link/230206EN.pdf

― With the Theme, “Changing Forward” ―

K Marine Ship Management Pte. Ltd. (KMSM), ^* a ship management company that is part of the Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) group, held a crew seminar in Mumbai, India for two days from March 1st. More than 50 Indian seafarers (officers) from oil tankers, LNG carriers, LPG carriers, and LNG bunkering ship managed by KMSM attended the crew seminar. The event included a lively exchange of opinions and a workshop together with KMSM superintendents on root cause analysis and recurrence prevention examining actual accidents and mental healthcare matters. After the crew seminar, KMSM held a long-service award ceremony, and a social gathering to which families were also invited.

President Yukikazu Myochin and many “K” LINE’s executives attended the seminar. At the long-service award ceremony, the president and the vice president expressed gratitude for their contributions to safe operations over many years and their achievements fostering the next generation. In addition, we expressed our gratitude to the seafarers for their fulfilling their responsibilities without stopping sea transportation in the extremely difficult onboard environment during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years.

Based on our corporate principle of contributing to the enrichment of people’s lives as a shipping company that is trusted globally and centered on the shipping industry, the “K” LINE group aims to achieve sustainable growth and increase its corporate value while moving toward the realization of low-carbon operations and the decarbonization of our company and society.

Through these activities, “K” LINE Group will deepen its understanding of seafarers and their families, who contribute to sea transportation around the world, and build strong connections with them, thereby immersing them in our corporate culture of safety, enabling this culture to mature and providing safe operations and high-quality transportation services.

* K Marine Ship Management Pte. Ltd. Established in Singapore in January 2022, it is the wholly owned “K” LINE subsidiary that is the core company of the “K” LINE Group for ship management and the crewing of oil tankers, LNG carriers, LPG carriers, and LNG bunkering ships. Released on Oct.27, 2022: Opening Ceremony of K Marine Ship Management Pte. Ltd.

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/csr/csr8649352863466748083/main/0/link/221027EN.pdf

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) hereby announces that it has resolved to revise its remuneration system (hereinafter referred to as “the Revisions to the Remuneration System”) for Directors (Executive directors only) and Executive Officers (hereinafter referred to as “Directors, etc.”), as follows. The resolution was made by the Company’s Board of Directors at its meeting held today.

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/ir/auto_20230313529645/pdfFile.pdf

(Cancellation of Treasury Stock Pursuant to Article 178 of the Companies Act of Japan)

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/ir/auto_20230313529642/pdfFile.pdf

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that we have signed a memorandum of understanding with Anglo American regarding the establishment of a working committee for collaborative research on decarbonization. 

“K” LINE has been engaged in the seaborne transportation of raw materials for Anglo American. Anglo American and “K” LINE have agreed to collaborate through the sharing of research and ideas and the utilization of both parties’ knowledge of new marine technology, alternative fuels and other fields that have the potential to grow in the near future to achieve their common goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Anglo American is a leading, global mining company with a portfolio of competitive, world class operations and a broad range of future development options. For more information about Anglo American refer to www.angloamerican.com.

In our Medium-Term Management Plan published on May 9^th, 2022*¹, “K” LINE defined the marine transportation business using coal and iron ore carriers as one of its top priority areas driving growth. We will continuously strive to enhance our corporate value by contributing to the sustainable development of society and the global environment with active collaboration on decarbonization through the development of partnerships with customers.

*1 Medium-term Management Plan (Released on May 9th, 2022)

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/ir/management/strategy.html

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) is pleased to announce that we have conducted the trial use of B24 marine biofuel comprising 24% fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) blended with very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO), which was supplied by integrated energy company bp to the Capesize bulker “CAPE TSUBAKI” with the cooperation of the charterer, JFE Steel Corporation. This is third successful trial use of marine biofuel by a “K” LINE vessel. “K” LINE would like to accumulate expertise on the operation and use of biofuels.

The vessel was supplied with the biofuel 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 2 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.

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*¹. Now “K” LINE has also conducted this trial for their raw materials shipments. “K” LINE aims to contribute the decarbonization of all of the marine transportation in the customer’s supply chain.

In “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 -Blue Seas for the Future-*², we have set the 2030 interim target of improving CO₂ emissions efficiency by 50% compared with 2008, surpassing the IMO target of a 40% improvement. Furthermore, we set our new target for 2050 as “The Challenge of Achieving Net-Zero GHG Emissions.” As an action plan, we will continue to work on the introduction of new fuels which have a low environmental impact and take on the challenge of achieving the targets we have established.

*1. August 26th, 2022.

“K” LINE Conducts Trial Use of Marine Biofuel for Decarbonization on Supramax Bulker

https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/drybulk/drybulk-4419591465105910059/main/0/link/220826EN.pdf

*2. “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 -Blue Seas for the Future-

As an action plan for GHG reduction, we are introducing zero-emission fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen fuels, as well as carbon-neutral fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic fuels.https://www.kline.co.jp/en/csr/environment/management.html