MOL LNG tanker rescues castaway off Papua New Guinea

Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) said Monday that its liquefied natural gas carrier LNG Fukurokuju has recently rescued a castaway  330km off New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

Image courtesy of MOL

The crew onboard the 165,134-cbm LNG Fukurokuju spotted the castaway, who was calling for help, on November 26 at 16:30 local time.

“The vessel immediately started rescue activities, and rescued him at 18:30 on the same day,” MOL said.

“At 6:52 on the next day, the survivor was handed over to the local authorities off Lihir Island of Papua New Guinea, upon instructions of the Papua New Guinea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres,” the shipping company said.

The 2016-built LNG Fukurokuju is co-owned by MOL and Japan’s utility Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO).

It is mainly used to ship the chilled the fuel from the Australia Pacific LNG plant on Barrow Island in Australia to Japan and China.