Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivers LNG carrier to MOL

Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries has delivered a liquefied natural gas (LNG) transport vessel to compatriot shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).

Kawasaki said on Friday that the LNG carrier in question was the 155,000 cbm Marvel Pelican.

The second of Kawasaki’s 155,000 cbm capacity LNG carriers to be commissioned, this ship is designed to enable passage through the newly expanded Panama Canal, which opened for full operations in 2016.

The Marvel Pelican will be used by MOL primarily to transport LNG procured via the American Cameron LNG Project.

While preserving hull dimensions to enable docking at major LNG terminals around the world, Kawasaki optimized the vessel’s hull structure to decrease overall ship weight. Also, the company adopted a two-propulsion motor, a twin-screw propulsion system to achieve the best propulsive performance possible while also integrating a DFD electric propulsion system, which increases fuel efficiency at all speeds.

Kawasaki added that it would continue to pursue shipbuilding operations moving forward in light of the anticipated rise in demand for LNG and other clean-energy fuels.

In a separate statement, MOL said that the vessel would sail under charter contracts signed with Mitsui & Co. in September 2014 and January 2015.

The 300-meter long vessel has a gross tonnage of 128,917 and can hold a complement of 44 people. To remind, the ship was named at KHI’s Sakaide Shipyard on November 19.