Japan’s 1st LNG bunkering vessel ready to start ops

Kawasaki Heavy Industries hosted a naming ceremony for Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel scheduled to start operations in October or later this year.

Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan, a venture consisting of K Line, JERA, Toyota Tsusho, and NYK Line, owns the ship.

The quartet named the 81.7 meters long 3,500-cbm vessel Kaguya on Wednesday at Kawasaki’s Sakaide Works.

Furthermore, the vessel will work from JERA’s Kawagoe power plant supplying LNG to a variety of ships in the Chubu region.

These include NYK’s LNG-fueled PCTC Sakura Leader and K-Line’s new car carrier scheduled for delivery this fiscal year.

The quartet aims to boost LNG bunkering in the region to slash emissions and comply with more stringent IMO rules.