ENVIRONMENTAL
- Environmental Management Practice
- Climate Change Response
- Greenhouse Gas and Energy Management
- Environmental Impact Management
- Investment in Green Vessels
Marine Environment Protection
BWMS Installation
Ballast water is stored in the ballast tank of a vessel to ensure the safe operation of the vessel. In this process, microorganisms contained in the ballast water may cause disruptions in the marine ecosystem. The IMO obligated Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) that sterilize and remove microorganisms in ballast water in September 2017. We started installing BWMS in owned vessel in 2016 even before the enforcement of the regulation, and now we monitor the ballast water sterilization process and results in real time. As of the end of 2021, we have installed BWMS on 83 vessels and aim to have the system installed on all owned vessels by 2025.
Fouling Prevention
We use a range of measures to keep marine biodiversity and protect the ecosystem. To prevent the ecosystem from being disrupted by foreign species attached to the hull of internationally operating vessels, we clean the vessel surface and apply anti-fouling paints whenever vessels enter the dock. Vessels at sea also follow procedures to check contaminations and damages to the hull surface on a regular basis. Other efforts to prevent fouling include installing marine growth preventing systems (MGPS) in seawater inlets and appointing anti-fouling managers.
Water Resource Management
Vessel Drainwater Management
To minimize the impact of vessel operations on the marine environment, we use organized management and control measures for vessel drainwater. For washwater that goes through the scrubber, a system to reduce sulfur oxides in exhaust gas, its pH, turbidity, PAH, nitrate content, etc., are measured and monitored in real time before being discharged. We also accumulate data from these monitoring activities for comprehensive management. Gray water and wastewater from vessels pass through vessel wastewater treatment systems for sterilization before discharge, otherwise, they are stored in separate holding tanks. We actively participate in marine water resource management in compliance with international agreements and regulations.
