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Japan's MOL subsidary plans LNG-fueled ferries to curb carbon footprint: Wartsila
20th May 2020 02:30 GMT

Ferry Sunflower, a subsidary of Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, is advancing its plans to operate LNG-fueled ferries as stricter environmental rules loom in the international shipping sector, technology group Wartsila said in a statement Tuesday.

The ships -- the Sunflower Kurenai and the Sunflower Murasaki -- are being built at Mitsubishi’s Shimonoseki shipyard in Japan, and will be the first LNG-fueled ferries to be built in Japan, said Wartsila, which will provide the complete LNG package for the two vessels.

The order with Wartsila was booked in the second quarter of 2020, it said.

“MOL is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities, and these two ferries are being built in line with that objective. By operating on LNG they will have a greatly reduced carbon footprint, " according to Makoto Yamaguchi, general manager, technical division, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

The about 200 m long ships will be capable of carrying some 763 passengers, 136 trucks and 100 passenger cars at a speed of 22.5 knots. They are scheduled to commence operations in 2023 on the Osaka-Beppu route, it added.

The thrust on LNG bunkering comes as demand for alternative fuels surges due to stricter environmental rules in international shipping.

LNG as a marine fuel not only tackles sulfur emissions, but compared with existing heavy marine fuel oils, LNG also emits 90% less nitrogen oxide, and through best practices and appropriate technologies minimizes methane leakage, realistically reduces GHG by 10%-20% with a potential for up to 25%, according to industry sources.

Japan has been at the forefront for promoting LNG bunkering.

Last week, another Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha said it had successfully launched Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel.

The LBV, which is scheduled to be delivered at the end of September 2020, will be based at JERA’s Kawagoe Thermal Power Station and commence ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business for LNG-fueled vessels, it said at the time.

Meanwhile, an official at Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., or Japex, told S&P Global Platts last week that it intends to consider launching the LNG bunkering with the local port authority at Tomakomai in Hokkaido in the 2020s, following the recent completion of a study.


Bunkerworld .,
20th May 2020 02:30 GMT