On April 22, a naming and launching ceremony was held for a newly built tugboat ordered by SeaGate Corporation, a consolidated subsidiary of Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (hereinafter “the Company”), from Kanagawa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture). The vessel was named “Bisan Maru” (hereinafter “the Vessel”). Following interior fitting-out, the Vessel is scheduled to enter service at Mizushima Port in Okayama Prefecture in August 2026.
While employing a conventional diesel (heavy oil)-fired propulsion system, this vessel is the first domestic tug to be equipped with a biofuel blending unit and an ultrasonic hull antifouling system. The combined use of these systems is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions compared with conventional vessels.
The biofuel blending system “BioBlender” installed on this vessel is manufactured by Konhira Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture) and enables on-board blending of No. 2 fuel oil and biofuel at any mixing ratio from 0% to 100%. With this system in place, it becomes possible to stably produce biofuel at the desired blending ratio directly onboard, even in regions where it is difficult to obtain blended biofuel supplied by fuel-bunkering vessels.
In addition, the ultrasonic hull antifouling system is manufactured by Kai to Midori no Gijutsu Kenkyusha LLC (headquartered in Koto Ward, Tokyo). This device uses ultrasound to inhibit the attachment of marine organisms, thereby reducing fuel consumption deterioration caused by hull fouling. Notably, this system was developed for the hybrid EV tug scheduled for completion in 2027 (Note 1) and was first installed on the vessel “Bisan Maru” to enable validation under actual operating conditions.
Under our group’s long-term environmental policy, “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 – Connecting the Blue Ocean to Tomorrow” (Note 2), we are advancing the research and implementation of environmental technologies. Moving forward, we will continue to make concerted efforts across the entire group to achieve low-carbon and decarbonization goals.
*1 See “K” LINE’s September 17, 2025 news release: SEAGATE CORPORATION Concludes Agreement on Construction of Electric Tugboat
https://www.kline.co.jp/en/news/logistics/logistics-20250917.html [1]
*2 “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050: Blue Seas for the Future is a set of long-term guidelines regarding the environment that was established in 2015 and revised in 2020. As part of our action plan to reduce GHG, we are engaged in a number of initiatives, for instance introducing zero-emission fuels such as ammonia and hydrogen fuels, and carbon-neutral fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic fuels.
https://www.kline.co.jp/en/sustainability/environment/management.html
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