MOL floats out LNG-fuelled ferry “Sunflower Pirka” in ceremony
- Published
by Admin
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Wednesday (4 September) announced the naming and launching ceremony of the LNG-fuelled ferry Sunflower Pirka.
The LNG-fuelled tugboat Ishin, operated by MOL Group company Nihon Tug-Boat Co., Ltd and is under construction at Naikai Zosen Corporation, assisted with towing the ferry during the launch.
The Sunflower Pirka is slated for delivery from Naikai Zosen in April 2025, and will then enter service on the Oarai-Tomakomai route operated by MOL Sunflower.
With the new ferry, MOL Group will operate a fleet of four LNG-fuelled ferries on East-West routes in Japan.
The Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki already in service on the Osaka-Beppu route since 2023, and the sister ship Sunflower Kamuy, is scheduled to enter service in early 2025 as the first ship on the Oarai-Tomakomai route.
MOL Sunflower as a whole operates 10 ferries and five RoRo vessels on six routes giving the company the Japan’s largest ferry fleet and most extensive route network, offering reliable service for both logistics and passengers.
Photo credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Published: 5 September, 2024
