world's first! Euglena biodiesel fuel used on ships Test cruise on Yaeyama Sightseeing Ferry
-Navigation of the Yaeyama Islands including Okinawa and Ishigaki Island, the first step towards an environmentally friendly shipping infrastructure-

Yaeyama Tourism Ferry Co., Ltd.
Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Yaeyama Tourism Ferry Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, President: Hiroaki Omatsu, hereinafter "Yaeyama Tourism Ferry") and Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter "Euglena Co., Ltd." Euglena Our next-generation biodiesel fuel“ Euglena Biodiesel Fuel ”was carried out on September 10, 2020 (Thursday) on the Yaeyama Kanko Ferry vessel. increase.

　Yaeyama Sightseeing Ferry vessels depart and arrive at Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Taketomi Island, etc. in the Yaeyama area of Okinawa Prefecture. The ship sails between islands and serves not only as a transport for tourists but also as a living infrastructure for locals. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry has conducted a test cruise using Euglena biodiesel fuel in support of the "GREEN OIL JAPAN" declaration * 1 that aims to make Japan an advanced biofuel country.
　This test cruise is the world's first initiative to introduce Euglena biodiesel fuel into ships * 2. Euglena completed Japan's first biojet / diesel fuel production demonstration plant (hereinafter referred to as "biofuel production demonstration plant") in 2018, and used the manufactured biofuel as a mobile body on land, sea, and air. I have been aiming to introduce it. This initiative marks the first step in using biodiesel fuel for Euglena biodiesel fuel in ships, which are "sea" mobiles.

* 1: Euglena Co., Ltd., with the completion of the biofuel production demonstration plant in October 2018, Yokohama City, Chiyoda Corporation, Itochu Enex Co., Ltd., Isuzu Motors Ltd., ANA Holdings Co., Ltd., Hiroshima Motors Industry and Academia Declared "GREEN OIL JAPAN" aiming to "make Japan an advanced biofuel country" with the government cooperation promotion council as a supporter
* 2: Euglena biodiesel fuel mixed with petroleum-derived diesel fuel

　Euglena biodiesel fuel Euglena Co., Ltd. used for this test cruise uses the Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) and used cooking oil as raw materials, even if the upper limit of mixing is 100% with respect to the diesel engine of a ship. It is a next-generation biodiesel fuel that can be used and can be supplied with existing refueling.

　In the shipping industry, international environmental regulations on fuels, etc. have begun in terms of Climate Change, air pollution, and environmental conservation, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced SOx regulations *3 to improve global air pollution. doing. From 2020, regulations have been further strengthened worldwide to limit the sulfur content in marine fuel oil from "3.5% or less" to "0.5% or less" *4. On the other hand, Euglena biodiesel fuel does not contain sulfur, which causes air pollution, so it is suitable for meeting SOx regulations for marine fuel oil.
　In terms of Climate Change measures, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels, and to eliminate GHG emissions from the shipping industry as early as possible in the 21st century. Our goal is to eliminate it *5. In order to achieve this goal, the shipping industry has identified three ways to reduce carbon emissions: (1) development of fuel-efficient ships, (2) implementation of efficient operation, and (3) development of alternative fuels. It is evaluated that the impact of low carbonization by fuel is large.

* 3: International regulations on the concentration of sulfur oxides (SOx) generated when ship fuel (petroleum, coal, etc.) burns
* 4: (Source) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry document "Roadmap for Zero Emissions of International Shipping" https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/energy_environment/green_innovation/pdf/002_03_03.pdf
* 5: (Source) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism document "IMO strategy for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted from ships" http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001250101.pdf

　In addition to biofuels, alternative fuels include liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia. There is a problem that hydrogen, ammonia, etc. are not compatible with the existing ship fuel refueling infrastructure. On the other hand, biofuels have the advantage of being able to use existing refueling infrastructure, and are carbon-neutral in that they do not generate GHGs in the combustion stage, so they are also promising from the perspective of Climate Change and air pollution countermeasures.
　In order to promote the use of Euglena Biofuel, a type of biofuel, in the shipping industry, Euglena Co., Ltd. has decided to carry out this test cruise together with Yaeyama Kanko Ferry.

　Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Euglena Co., Ltd. will continue to carry out sustainable efforts in consideration of the global environment in anticipation of the full-scale introduction of Euglena
　The details of this initiative are as follows.

―Euglena Test navigation of vessels using biodiesel fuel―

● Schedule: Thursday, September 10, 2020
● Navigation route: Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture)
● Contents: Conducted a test cruise using Euglena biodiesel fuel on a Yaeyama sightseeing ferry vessel

● About "Euglena Biodiesel Fuel"
　Euglena biodiesel fuel is 100% usable for vehicles using diesel engines such as vehicles and ships, which use the Euglena It is a generation biodiesel fuel. Since the existing refueling infrastructure of ships and vehicles using fossil fuels can be used as it is, there is no need to modify existing ships and vehicles, which may lead to efficient spread and expansion of use. ..
　Since the fuel does not contain sulfur, which causes air pollution, it is suitable for complying with the SOx regulations stipulated for fuel oil for ships.

● About the "GREEN OIL JAPAN" declaration
　With the completion of the biofuel production demonstration plant in October 2018, Euglena declared "GREEN OIL JAPAN" aiming to "make Japan a biofuel advanced country". By introducing biofuel produced at Our biofuel production demonstration plant to mobile vehicles on land, sea, and air, and by expanding the number of supporters who produce and use biofuel throughout Japan by 2030, biofuel The goal is to establish the business as an industry. With this initiative, a total of 29 companies and local governments have endorsed the declaration. By achieving the goals, we will contribute to the SDGs "GOAL7: Affordable and Clean Energy", "GOAL13: Climate Change", and "GOAL17: Partnerships for the Goals".

Euglena Co., Ltd. supports the "GREEN OIL JAPAN" declaration and implements and disseminates the use of biofuels, the supply of raw materials, and support for the spread of biofuels. ) Is being recruited. "GREEN OIL JAPAN" Declaration HP: https://euglena.jp/greenoiljapan/
Inquiries about "GREEN OIL JAPAN": https://www.euglena.jp/contact/b09/

<About Yaeyama Tourism Ferry Co., Ltd.>
　Based in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, we operate daily high-speed boats on regular routes connecting the islands of Taketomi Town (Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, Kuroshima, Iriomote Island, Hatoma Island). In addition to high-speed boats, freighters also transport goods to remote islands. In addition to regular flight operations, we also offer in-house tours that combine boat and remote island sightseeing tours, such as Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island tours and Taketomi Island buffalo car sightseeing. (Owned vessels: 10 high-speed vessels, 2 cargo-passenger vessels) https://www.yaeyama.co.jp

<About Euglena Co., Ltd.>
　In 2005, we succeeded in establishing the world's first edible outdoor mass culture technology for microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena) on Ishigaki Island. In addition to developing and selling functional foods and cosmetics that utilize Euglena and chlorella produced on Ishigaki Island, we are also conducting research toward the production of biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. TSE First Section market change in December 2014. We define "Sustainability First" as Euglena Philosophy and develop our business. https://euglena.jp

-Contact for inquiries from the press-
Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division