Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ("K" Line) has been a promoter of environmental preservation, paying constant attention to the prevention of marine accident through ship navigation and cargo operations and various impacts on the environment through its business activities. It has introduced a series of actions to protect the environment against such impacts. Among them are:
Efforts at ships and sea
Eco-friendly navigation by car carriers
In the spring of 2007, the company has started a new project to reduce CO2 emissions by implementation of eco-friendly speed navigation in Ise/Mikawa Bay for all "K" Line owned or operated car carriers. "K" Line has, for a long time, periodically operated car carrier vessels at eco-friendly speed navigation in the open ocean as long as schedule permit, but this is the first trial where largesized ocean-going vessels will continuously operate at green speed navigation in the inner sea of Ise/Mikawa Bay. "K" Line now has 500 car carrier calls in Ise/Mikawa Bay each year, and it is expected that based on half of full benefit, CO2 emissions will be reduced by about 1,000 tons per year.
Green flag program (eco-friendly navigation)
The company has been taking part in the voluntary vessel speed reduction program promoted by Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. It is aimed at reducing exhaust gas by slowing navigational speed in designated areas. "K" Line made a total 344 calls at the Port of Long Beach over the twelve-month period of 2007, and reduced the speed of its ships in 343 out of these calls, giving it the highest compliance rate among carriers with more than 200 calls during the year.
Good quality fuel oil
Consumption of fuel oil is essential for shipping navigation, and almost all of fuel oil is depended on heavy fuel oil.
Sulfur contained in the fuel oil, when burning in a diesel engine, become Sulfur Oxides (SOx) and emitted into air in exhaust gas. They cause acid rain and air pollution.
"K" Line has preserved the local rule of sulfur content in using fuel oil for ships such as required by international convention and regulation.
Double hull
To prevent marine pollutioin caused by collision and grounding, the company is introducing double hull tankers. The ratio of double hull tankers is 93.3% of total ships in operation. Only one single hull tanker is left.
Ballast water (sea water)
Loaded and discharged seawater to stabilize a ship is known as ballast water. Usually, it is loaded after cargo discharge and unloaded prior to cargo loading. Ballast water contains marine life and pathogens, etc. If they are discharged into a different sea area, some of them may live there. Arrangements are being made for legitimate and appropriate change of ballast water in the open sea.
Environmentally-friendly paints
TBT (Tributyltin)-containing paint has been extensively used for painting ship's bottom due to its high effectiveness of anti-fouling. The company points out that the accumulated tin has possibility of posing a problem to environmental hormones with its toxicity
From early on, "K" Line has been adopting tin-free paint which does not contain TBT. Consequently, all ships the group owns and manages are 100% TBT free.
Best available technology
"K" Line has adopted brand-new and environmentally-friendly engine plant such as Electronically-Controlled Engine (fully optimal combustion by electronic control), Exhaust Gas Economizer (generate steam by withdrawing exhaust gas energy), Soot Collecting Device (capture soot in exhaust gas with putting special filler during smoke pipe for diesel plants). Turbine Generator (co-generation by waste heat system).
Efforts at terminals
Greater transfer crane at container terminals
"K" Line introduces Environmentally Green Type "Hybrid" Transfer Crane at Container Terminals. This newly-developed "hybrid" transfer crane has a system that reduces fuel consumption by reusing electricity that has been transformed from energy that is generated when containers being lifted move downward.
Eco-friendly fuel oil
"K" Line container terminal in Tacoma uses a blended fuel for its cargo equipment in which 20% of biofuel and 80% of low sulfur petroleum-based diesel are mixed.
Power supply from shore
At "K" Line's container terminal in the Port of Long Beach, supplying electronic power from shore side was implemented in Novemer 2008. When this innovative system is entirely completed, emissions of gases from onboard diesel-powered generators while ships are at berth will be reduced to zero. At the same terminal, equipment including forklifts operating at the yard is being retrofitted and renewed giving favorable consideration to the enviroment.
Efforts at ships and sea
Eco-friendly navigation by car carriers
In the spring of 2007, the company has started a new project to reduce CO2 emissions by implementation of eco-friendly speed navigation in Ise/Mikawa Bay for all "K" Line owned or operated car carriers. "K" Line has, for a long time, periodically operated car carrier vessels at eco-friendly speed navigation in the open ocean as long as schedule permit, but this is the first trial where largesized ocean-going vessels will continuously operate at green speed navigation in the inner sea of Ise/Mikawa Bay. "K" Line now has 500 car carrier calls in Ise/Mikawa Bay each year, and it is expected that based on half of full benefit, CO2 emissions will be reduced by about 1,000 tons per year.
Green flag program (eco-friendly navigation)
The company has been taking part in the voluntary vessel speed reduction program promoted by Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. It is aimed at reducing exhaust gas by slowing navigational speed in designated areas. "K" Line made a total 344 calls at the Port of Long Beach over the twelve-month period of 2007, and reduced the speed of its ships in 343 out of these calls, giving it the highest compliance rate among carriers with more than 200 calls during the year.
Good quality fuel oil
Consumption of fuel oil is essential for shipping navigation, and almost all of fuel oil is depended on heavy fuel oil.
Sulfur contained in the fuel oil, when burning in a diesel engine, become Sulfur Oxides (SOx) and emitted into air in exhaust gas. They cause acid rain and air pollution.
"K" Line has preserved the local rule of sulfur content in using fuel oil for ships such as required by international convention and regulation.
Double hull
To prevent marine pollutioin caused by collision and grounding, the company is introducing double hull tankers. The ratio of double hull tankers is 93.3% of total ships in operation. Only one single hull tanker is left.
Ballast water (sea water)
Loaded and discharged seawater to stabilize a ship is known as ballast water. Usually, it is loaded after cargo discharge and unloaded prior to cargo loading. Ballast water contains marine life and pathogens, etc. If they are discharged into a different sea area, some of them may live there. Arrangements are being made for legitimate and appropriate change of ballast water in the open sea.
Environmentally-friendly paints
TBT (Tributyltin)-containing paint has been extensively used for painting ship's bottom due to its high effectiveness of anti-fouling. The company points out that the accumulated tin has possibility of posing a problem to environmental hormones with its toxicity
From early on, "K" Line has been adopting tin-free paint which does not contain TBT. Consequently, all ships the group owns and manages are 100% TBT free.
Best available technology
"K" Line has adopted brand-new and environmentally-friendly engine plant such as Electronically-Controlled Engine (fully optimal combustion by electronic control), Exhaust Gas Economizer (generate steam by withdrawing exhaust gas energy), Soot Collecting Device (capture soot in exhaust gas with putting special filler during smoke pipe for diesel plants). Turbine Generator (co-generation by waste heat system).
Efforts at terminals
Greater transfer crane at container terminals
"K" Line introduces Environmentally Green Type "Hybrid" Transfer Crane at Container Terminals. This newly-developed "hybrid" transfer crane has a system that reduces fuel consumption by reusing electricity that has been transformed from energy that is generated when containers being lifted move downward.
Eco-friendly fuel oil
"K" Line container terminal in Tacoma uses a blended fuel for its cargo equipment in which 20% of biofuel and 80% of low sulfur petroleum-based diesel are mixed.
Power supply from shore
At "K" Line's container terminal in the Port of Long Beach, supplying electronic power from shore side was implemented in Novemer 2008. When this innovative system is entirely completed, emissions of gases from onboard diesel-powered generators while ships are at berth will be reduced to zero. At the same terminal, equipment including forklifts operating at the yard is being retrofitted and renewed giving favorable consideration to the enviroment.