A First as Japanese LNG Bunkering Ship Takes to the Water

JAPAN – In July 2018 Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Chubu Electric Power, Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) formed a joint venture entitled Central LNG Shipping Japan Corporation (CLS), and announced that the new operation had ordered an LNG bunkering vessel (LBV) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, scheduled to be delivered around September to December 2020.

Progress has seemingly been bang on target as this week the country’s first LNG bunker vessel was successfully launched at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. After the scheduled delivery in September, the LBV will be based at JERA’s Kawagoe Thermal Power Station and commence ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business for LNG-fuelled vessels.

The new vessel, as yet unnamed, will be owned and managed by CLS and the gas will be supplied to end users by Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation (CLMF), which will promote the LNG bunkering business in the Chubu (central) region of Japan.

Compared to heavy fuel oil, the use of LNG can reduce emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) by approximately 100%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by as much as 80%, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) by approximately 30%.

The ship itself is 81.7 metres long with a beam of 18 metres and weighs in with a gross tonnage of 4,100 tonnes. The LNG cargo tank can hold 3,500 m³ of liquefied natural gas.

Photo: The unnamed vessel makes its first appearance.