Marubeni, ENEOS to launch new eco-friendly ethylene carrier

Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation has teamed up with its compatriot energy company ENEOS for the introduction of an eco-friendly ethylene carrier.

As disclosed, ENEOS as a producer of ethylene and Marubeni as a sales and logistics provider have supplied ethylene to customers over a long time frame.

Now, the companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which they will jointly consider carbon neutralisation in the ethylene supply chain.

Going forward, the Japanese companies decided to use a new eco-friendly ethylene carrier which will be chartered by Marubeni over the long term. The ethylene delivery is set to commence in 2024.

Marubeni said that the vessel will be the first ethylene carrier equipped with a dual-fuel engine – liquified natural gas (LNG) and very low sulfur fuel oil – built for ethylene export from Japan.

This vessel is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 40% compared to conventional ethylene carriers.

Finally, ENEOS and Marubeni plan to further develop carbon neutralisation in the ethylene supply chain in order to meet customer needs for low carbon and decarbonisation.

In 2021, Marubeni joined forces with Navigator Gas, owner and operator of handysize liquefied gas carriers, to achieve the world’s first carbon-neutral ethylene voyage.

The voyage was performed by the Navigator Triton, a 21,020 cbm ethylene gas carrier, which departed from Morgan’s Point, Houston, Texas, US on July 6th, 2021 and was set to transport its cargo across the Atlantic to Antwerp, Belgium.