Kawasaki launches Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has launched Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel at its Sakaide Works yard.

Kawasaki will deliver the vessel at the end of September this year. Namely, it is the first liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel to be operated in Japan.

The vessel has a capacity to hold 3,500 cubic meters of the chilled fuel, the joint venture behind the project said in a joint statement.

After the delivery, the vessel will be based at JERA’s Kawagoe thermal power station and commence ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business for LNG-fueled vessels.

Central LNG Shipping Japan Corporation (CLS) ordered the LNG bunkering vessel in 2018. CLS placed the order in cooperation with the Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation (CLMF). The latter will promote the LNG bunkering business in the Chubu (central) region of Japan.

CLS is a joint venture between Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), JERA, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line).

JERA is the supplier of liquefied natural gas. The Central LNG Marine Fuel Corporation will deliver the fuel to users, the statement reads.