NYK Line launches year-long B100 trial on car carrier
Japanese shipping firm Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) has launched a year-long trial of continuous B100 (100% biofuel) use on one of its car carriers.
IMAGE: An NYK Line car carrier. NYK Line
The project will assess the effects of prolonged B100 consumption on the vessel’s engines, fuel supply systems and day-to-day operations. Since high-purity biofuels can be vulnerable to degradation caused by oxygen, light and heat, the trial will also examine fuel stability during extended use.
The B100 fuel to be used in the trial consists mainly of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) produced from used cooking oil and other waste-based feedstocks.
NYK previously tested a B24 biofuel blend in 2024 before expanding its operational use to B30. However, the company notes that industry experience with the continuous long-term use of B100 remains limited.
The trial aims to evaluate the fuel’s impact on onboard equipment and confirm safe vessel operations under commercial conditions.
By gathering long-term operational data, NYK seeks to build technical expertise that can facilitate the wider adoption of high-purity biofuels while supporting the shipping industry's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By Tuhin Roy
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