Kobe Steel Becomes First Steel Manufacturer to Join Blue Visby Consortium
Sep. 30, 2026
Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Kobe Steel has joined the Blue Visby Consortium*, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from maritime transport by optimizing vessel operations with digital technology. As the first steel manufacturer in the world to join this consortium, the Company will promote decarbonization in the shipping industry and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality.
Addressing port congestion and the resulting offshore vessel waiting times, which lead to increased fuel use and GHG emissions, has long been a focus for the shipping industry. The consortium was established to address this issue and is committed to developing and promoting the Blue Visby Solution, a platform designed to optimize vessel arrival times. By leveraging various data including vessel performance, port congestion, and weather forecast, it provides optimal arrival times for multiple ships bound for the same port, while maintaining their order of arrival. This eliminates the need to wait offshore and enables more efficient operations, thereby reducing GHG emissions.
Verification by the consortium indicates that the use of the Blue Visby Solution can achieve a reduction of about 15% in GHG emissions. As a steel manufacturer that relies on maritime transport to import raw materials such as iron ore and coal, Kobe Steel will help address the challenges of the maritime transport supply chain—improving efficiency and promoting decarbonization—through participation in the consortium.
- *The Blue Visby Consortium is coordinated by NAPA Oy, a Finland-based provider of data solutions for ship design and safe, efficient operations, and Stephenson Harwood LLP, an international law firm headquartered in London. Its membership comprises a diverse range of organizations and companies, such as shipping lines, ports, classification societies, insurance firms, trading companies, and financial institutions.
- About Kobelco Group’s Transformation Initiative: KOBELCO-X
The Kobe Steel Group (also known as the Kobelco Group) is advancing the transformation into an appealing company under its current Medium-Term Management Plan (Fiscal 2024–2026). To achieve this goal, our Group is promoting various transformation initiatives, collectively called KOBELCO-X. Participation in the consortium is part of our Group’s green transformation (GX) initiative. By supporting and collaborating with the Blue Visby Consortium, which seeks to reduce GHG emissions through more efficient vessel operations, we will contribute to the decarbonization of the entire maritime transport supply chain.
In addition, the Kobelco Group is taking on the challenge of realizing carbon neutrality as one of the priority issues under the current Medium-Term Management Plan. Joining the consortium further reinforces our contribution to reducing Scope 3 CO2 emissions.
Our Group will continue to provide solutions to the needs of society through the integration of our distinctive technologies, products, and services, with a view to a world in which people, now and in the future, can fulfill their hopes and dreams while enjoying safe, secure, and prosperous lives.
Our Group’s Transformation Initiatives[PDF:5.08MB]
- *The information on this web site is presented "as is." Product availability, organization, and other content may differ from the time the information was originally posted. Changes may take place without notice.
