K Line, Uyeno Group Join SEALNG

Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) and compatriot Uyeno Group have joined SEALNG, a multi-sector industry coalition aiming at accelerating the adoption of LNG as a marine fuel.

As explained, SEALNG sees Japan as growing in importance as a location for LNG-fueled shipping and bunkering.

K Line and Uyeno Group, a group of organizations providing logistics solutions for the storage and transportation of petroleum and petro-chemical products, now stand alongside a number of Japanese organizations which have joined SEALNG to accelerate LNG adoption in the nation’s ports and waters, as well as globally. These include Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP), Marubeni, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co., NYK Line, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Sumitomo Corporation.

“Collaboration, demonstration and communication on key areas such as safety, regulation, emissions and the economic case for LNG are essential to strengthening the increasing confidence and demand required for an effective and efficient global LNG value chain by 2020. Our members in Japan are doing important work, both in the region and across the world, which contributes significantly to helping us achieve our mission,” Peter Keller, SEALNG chairman and executive vice president of Tote, commented.

In April 2017, K Line launched a new business division devoted to the transportation of LNG and LPG.

“We expect long-term global demand for LNG to grow as a clean energy resource. In addition to conventional LNG transport operation, our new division will also spearhead efforts to enter new business fields, such as floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs),” Satoshi Kanamori, general manager of liquefied gas new business group at K Line, noted.

“Working with SEALNG, we hope to collaborate with organisations from across the LNG value chain to improve bunkering infrastructure and stimulate demand for LNG across the Asia-Pacific region, and beyond,” Kanamori added.

“As attitudes and regulations surrounding the marine and energy sectors transform with the times, Uyeno Group is diversifying its business offering into the clean energy business (….) We look forward to engaging with Japan’s growing LNG market (…) to further SEALNG’s global mission,” Kazutoshi Takao, executive managing officer of Uyeno Group, said.