In light of our business outlook and various issues related to the global environment, we have established a set of “Goals for 2050” and are making various approaches to this end.
To further reinforce this pathway, we set the objective of “introducing LNG-fueled carriers” in the milestone year of 2019, which marks the 100-year Anniversary since our foundation.
Measures for Recycling and Conserving Resources-Measures Taken at Offices
We are promoting waste minimization and recycling
Through measures such as use of iPads and paper-saving printer settings (double-sided printing and printing two pages per each side of paper), we are reducing our use of office paper. We also separate office waste into 12 different types and try to recycle it into resources whenever possible.
We are promoting purchase of eco-friendly goods/products
We employ a system for office purchases whereby priority is given to purchasing products that comply with the Act on Promoting Green Purchasing or are EcoMark-certified. We sum up the amount of expenses for purchasing goods and the ratio of green purchases each month and distribute the results widely throughout the Company in order to further increase consciousness about reducing costs and purchasing eco-friendly goods/products.
We are promoting a PET Bottle Cap Recycling Campaign
On September 1, 2015, our office started to collect PET bottle caps which had been disposed of as plastic garbage every day. The purpose of this activity is reducing CO_{2} emissions from the incineration of PET bottle caps; and making the activity a help for social contribution by donating the proceeds from sale of PET bottle caps to charity.
Results of this activity of handing over the PET bottle caps to Minato-ku Recycling business Cooperative in the past are as follows:
| Number of collected caps (pcs) |
Weight of collected caps (kgs) |
Number of vaccinations (If converting all sale into vaccinations.) |
Quantity of CO2 reduction (kgs) |
|
| 2015 | 9,890 | 23 | 12 | 72.5 |
| 2016 | 49,020 | 114 | 60 | 359.2 |
| 2017 | 39,990 | 93 | 48 | 293.0 |
| 2018 (As of January 2018) |
13,330 | 31 | 16 | 97.7 |
| Total (As of January 2018) |
112,230 | 261 | 136 | 822.4 |
Measures for Recycling and Conserving Resources-Measures Taken at Sea
Reducing risks to water
Most of the water used for daily living on ships is seawater that has been purified using 80°C jacket cooling water that was used to cool the engine during a voyage. The interior of the freshwater generator is maintained as a vacuum to lower the boiling point of the water so that seawater fed to the device is vaporized by the heat of the jacket cooling water. It is then condensed by the condenser to make distilled water that is used for various purposes on board.
Ship dismantling and recycling of resources with Health, Safety and Environment considerations
Iron and various other types of metals are used in ships. The metals collected after dismantling a ship are valuable resources and can be recycled into new products and used for new services to support local lives and the growth of employment. The “K” LINE Group conducts responsible dismantling and recycling of resources also in the ship scrapping stage. When we dismantle a ship, we inspect ship recycling yards and use our unique “K” LINE check-list to carry out environmental impact assessment to check whether the work is being carried out safely, whether substances that affect the human body or the environment are being properly collected, whether the dismantling process has an impact on the surrounding environment and so on.
A pilot model project to build safe and efficient “advanced country-model” ship recycling system (the Muroran Project) was launched under the initiative of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. In 2010, “K” LINE joined the project and conducted a ship dismantling demonstration experiment on its owned ship, the New York Highway. Based on the knowledge yielded by this project and on numerous past experiences in ship dismantling, we are also putting efforts into projects that follow the Ship Recycling Convention adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2009 ahead of it coming into effect.
【Efforts for Ship Recycling】
Ship dismantling with safety and environmental considerations
Ships that have completed all their missions are demolished and utilized effectively as iron resources. Most dismantling work, however, is done manually because it is hard to mechanize or automate. Consequently, occupational health and safety and environmental burdens need to be considered in ship dismantling work. It is also important to recognize in advance which parts of the ship contain substances harmful to the human body and/or the environment.
Inventory of the car carrier, the New York Highway
Built in 1985, this ship used asbestos, TBT and CFC (specified chlorofluorocarbon), the substances that are now banned. Asbestos was used for gaskets tucked into connections of portions that become hot, including the engine’s exhaust system, the boiler furnace and the steam piping. TBT, which at the time was not banned, was used as the paint for ship bottoms. TBT paint is permitted but subject to a sealed off treatment by coating the painted surface with another paint not containing TBT. CFC was used for the freezer for cooling down the large amount of CO_{2} serving as fire extinguisher for the cargo hold, where cars are loaded. An inventory is a document that includes drawings and a detailed list of portions where these substances are used, along with the amount of each substance. Information contained in the inventory can be referred to for collecting the harmful substances safely without allowing them to disperse, which prevents an impact on the surrounding area.
Taking part in the Muroran Project
- 拡大
- The funnel of the New York Highway that was removed (front) and the ship being dismantled (back)
A pilot project for establishing a safe, efficient, advanced ship recycling system was launched under the initiative of Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This project involved a ship dismantling demonstration experiment, which was undertaken in Muroran, Hokkaido, from February to October 2010. The ship used in this experiment was the New York Highway, which was formerly operated by “K” LINE. The experiment results yielded a great deal of knowledge needed for dismantling. As much as 13,732 tons of iron was also collected as a resource.
