Japan launches its first LNG-fuelled vessel

OREANDA-NEWS. September 03, 2015. Japan has commissioned the country's first LNG-fuelled vessel, aiming to catch up with overseas development in the sector and tap the growing market for the more environmentally friendly ships.

Japanese shipping firm NYK Line said today it took delivery of an LNG-fuelled tugboat, which was built by NYK Line's group tugboat builder Keihin Dock in Yokohama. The Sakigake will be chartered to the firm's group tugboat operator Wing Maritime Service for servicing at Yokohama and Kawasaki ports.

Japan in 2013 introduced operational guidelines and safety requirements for LNG-fuelled ships at domestic ports in anticipation of an increase in the use of such vessels as international maritime regulations on emissions tighten. Both the trade and industry ministry and transport ministry backed NYK Line's construction of the ?1.5bn (\\$12mn) tugboat under their subsidy programmes, aiming to gain the expertise in operation of such ships, emergency management and LNG bunkering

Japan's largest gas retailer Tokyo Gas will supply LNG on trucks to fuel the vessel at Yokohama port, which will perform truck-to-ship LNG bunkering for the first time in the country. Tokyo Gas and NYK Line have co-operated to establish safe and effective LNG bunkering procedures and completed a successful test in truck-to-ship bunkering at Yokohama port in July.

NYK Line, French utility Engie and Japanese trading house Mitsubishi are currently building a LNG bunkering vessel for 2016 commissioning at Belgium's Zeebrugge port. NYK Line's joint venture with a Swedish shipping firm Wallenius Lines has also placed an order with Japanese shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries to build two LNG-fuelled car carriers for commissioning in the second half of 2016. The joint venture, United European Car Carriers, will primarily use the vessels in the North Sea and Baltic Sea.