Japanese shipping firm Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Kyushu Electric Power Co (Kyuden) on Monday (29 March) announced the companies have concluded a basic agreement for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker fuel to two LNG-fueled ferries operated by MOL Group company Ferry Sunflower Limited (Ferry Sunflower) – the Sunflower Kurenai and the Sunflower Murasaki.
According to the agreement, 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 (the northside wharf at the third pier) in Oita Prefecture. To speed up the fuel supply process, pipes (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 Group company Oita Liquefied Natural Gas Company, Inc. (Oita LNG).
Niyac Corporation (Niyac) will transport and supply LNG to the ferries and Oita Gas Co., Ltd. (Oita Gas) will oversee safety during LNG bunkering. Meanwhile, Kyuden will sell LNG fuel to Ferry Sunflower through MOL Group company MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. 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.
The consortium said it views this project as an effective means of reducing the carbon emission of vessel operation as global environmental regulations have become stricter.
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Related: MOL orders two LNG-fuelled ferries from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding
Related: First LNG bunkering operation conducted at Port of Nagoya in Japan
Related: MOL officially receives delivery of LNG-fuelled tugboat at Kobe port
Photo credit: MOL
Published: 30 March, 2021
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