MOL secures supply for LNG-fueled ferry pair

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Kyushu Electric Power (Kyuden) have inked a supply deal for an LNG-fueled ferry pair.

Under the agreement, Kyushu Electric will supply the chilled fuel to Sunflower Kurenai and the Sunflower Murasaki, the two ferries operated by MOL Group company Ferry Sunflower.

LNG fuel supply is slated to begin around the end of 2022 upon the delivery of the ferries, which are now under construction.

Around 50 tons of LNG fuel per day will be supplied via truck-to-ship to these ferries berthed in Beppu Port in Oita Prefecture.

To speed up the fuel supply process, skids will be connected to four tank trucks, allowing them to fuel the vessels simultaneously.

LNG fuel will be supplied to the tank trucks at the loading station of Kyuden’s Oita LNG facility.

Niyac Corporation (Niyac) will transport and supply LNG to the ferries and Oita Gas will oversee safety during LNG bunkering.

Meanwhile, Kyuden will sell LNG fuel to Ferry Sunflower through MOL Group company MOL Techno-Trade.

This system will link a series of well-prepared measures from loading to transport and supply and achieve a safe and reliable supply of LNG fuel, MOL said in a statement.

MOL, Ferry Sunflower, and Kyuden view this project as an effective means of reducing the carbon emission of vessel operations as global environmental regulations have become stricter.