MOL welcomes LNG-powered car carrier Cerulean Ace

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has taken delivery of LNG-powered car carrier Cerulean Ace from compatriot shipbuilder Shin Kurushima Dockyard.

As informed, the company held a naming and delivery ceremony for the vessel on March 13 at Onishi Shipyard. The ship is the first out of eleven new LNG-fuelled car carriers to be built in Japan for MOL. The car carrier will transport cars produced by Japan’s car manufacturer Mazda Motor Corporation.

The ship is almost 200 meters long, with a breadth of 38 meters and a capacity of 7,050 units. It comes equipped with an AI system installed in the cargo hold that detects fire and notifies crewmembers of abnormalities based on images captured by cameras.

Furthermore, Starlink satellite communications service installed onboard the ship will provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity.

MOL selected LNG as a fuel to run the vessel. By using LNG, the company expects to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by about 25-30 percent, sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by about 98 percent, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by about 85 percent compared to comparable vessels using conventional fuel oil.

Last year, the Japanese shipowner revealed a new name and new hull color design for its car carriers, which will be primarily fuelled by LNG. The new name, ‘BLUE’ series, embodies the MOL’s corporate mission “From the blue oceans, we sustain people’s lives and ensure a prosperous future”.