IINO Kaiun Kaisha and Electric Power Development on Monday (9 March) said that a biofuel trial voyage was conducted on the bulk carrier YODOHIME, which is equipped with a Rotor Sail.
This trial voyage using biofuel on a vessel equipped with wind-assisted propulsion technology marked the first such initiative by a domestic electric power company.
The biofuel was supplied at Zhoushan Port, China, on 18 January and was used during the voyage from Australia to Japan. The sea trials were successfully completed on 15 February.
“Following the sea trials, the vessel arrived in Japan in late February and has completed its voyage,” the company said on its website.
Biofuel is produced from biomass, which refers to organic resources derived from living organisms, such as waste cooking oil. The fuel used on this voyage was a blended fuel (B24) consisting of 24% biofuel mixed with very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).
Photo credit: IINO Kaiun Kaisha
Published: 12 March, 2026
