Sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contribute to acid rain and air pollution, which is becoming more serious as the economy grows. This is affecting people's daily lives and the natural environment. In response, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established regulations to control air pollutants in exhaust gases for the international shipping industry. For more information on regulations, please refer to the "Regulations" page.
MOL complies with these regulations by arranging for the use of regulation-compliant oil and by installing NOx removal equipment (Selective Catalytic Reduction, SCR) and SOx scrubbers on its vessels. We also own and operate dual-fuel vessels that can use methanol fuel, which reduces SOx emissions by 99%, and LNG-fueled vessels, which can reduce SOx emissions by 100% and NOx emissions by approximately 85%.
* For our air pollution prevention milestones and progress, please refer to "Progress on Milestones" on the "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2" page.
NOx emissions from ships are being regulated in phases under the IMO treaty. The third tier, which makes regulations even tighter, has come into effect since January 2016. Since 2014, NOx selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems have been installed and tested in three power generators on MOL-operated iron ore carriers.
MOL, Yanmar Co., Ltd., and Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Have jointly developed an SCR system. This system has received a statement of fact from ship classification society ClassNK, verifying that it meets International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.
NOx is generated by bonding nitrogen in fuel oil and the oxygen in the air under high temperature during combustion in the engine. We equipped SCR systems, which eliminate NOx emissions from vessels, to three power generators on the MOL-owned/operated large-scale iron ore carrier. We confirmed that its denitration performance for diesel oil conforms to IMO's NOx Tier III regulations, which will take effect in 2016.
MOL, in cooperation with ClassNK and Yanmar Co., Ltd., has been operating the system since the vessel was delivered in December 2013. Its verification using marine diesel oil (MDO) as fuel and about 3,100 hours of operation (total operation hours of three SCR systems) have been completed. Verification using heavy fuel oil (HFO) has been completed 15,000hrs.
SOx scrubbers reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) contained in vessel exhaust emissions. These newly introduced devices meet strict new IMO regulations on the concentration of sulfur content in bulker oil. MOL announced a plans to install SOx scrubbers with some of MOL Group vessels in 2017, and is moving ahead to implement this program in cooperation with the scrubber manufacturer, shipyards, and other parties.
In cooperation with MOL, MAN Diesel & Turbo of Denmark developed the main engine, the first low-speed diesel engine ever in the world to run on methanol in 2015. In early 2016 , we launched the tanker vessel equipped with dual-fuel engine that can run on either methanol or heavy fuel oil. Since methanol contains no sulfur, it is more environmentally friendly than conventional diesel fuel, and can reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions. Also, compared to the conventional engine, it will reduce CO2 and NOx.
Particulate matter (PM) refers to solid or liquid particles. State of California in the United States is taking advanced measures to prevent air pollution. In particular, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) "At-Berth Regulation", which regulates the emission of exhaust from diesel auxiliary engines on certain classes of ships arriving in California ports in the United States, regulated ships calling in that state are required to reduce the amount of air pollutants (PM: diesel microparticles, NOx: nitrogen oxides, etc.) emitted during their mooring at ports.
Emissions of NOx, SOx, soot and smoke, and other pollutants can be significantly reduced while at berth by reducing the use of conventional diesel power generators and receiving electric power supply from onshore instead. MOL containerships and tugboats operated by Group companies have been installing electric power supply systems connected to the local electricity grid to power ships at berth. In some ports, the shore power supply system is even used to power domestic carriers while at berth.
Additionally, in 2022, MOL began collaborating with Clean Air Engineering Maritime, Inc., a ship-auxiliary generator exhaust treatment company,located in California, U.S.A, including providing funding for the development of a new treatment system that can reduce air pollutants emitted from car carriers while berthed. We have entered into a contract to start practical use the new system from 2025.
MOL continues to move ahead with adoption of the shore power supply system and treatment system for air pollutants in cooperation with the manufacturer, aiming to reduce the environmental impact on ports, harbors, and surrounding areas.
We operate one of the world's largest fleet of methanol carriers, of which we have owned and expanded our fleet of dual fuel vessels that can utilize methanol as fuel since 2016. In 2023, a dual fuel methanol carrier, "Cypress Sun" has been completed.
Methanol fuel can reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by up to 99%, particulate matter (PM) emissions by up to 95%, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 80%, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 15% in comparison to burning conventional marine fuel, and it is supplied by about 130 major ports around the world. In the future, net CO2 emissions can be reduced by using methanol fuels derived from non-fossil raw materials-such as e-methanol produced by synthesizing CO2 recovered from various emission sources & hydrogen produced using renewable energy, and biogas-derived biomethanol.
As one of the world's largest methanol carriers, MOL is committed to further expanding its methanol transportation services by leveraging its experience and expertise to meet a wide range of customer needs, and will proactively introduce all technologies that contribute to reducing environmental impact.