Order placed for Japan’s first methanol dual-fuel crude oil tanker

Japan’s IINO Kaiun Kaisha (IINO Lines) has placed an order for what is said to be “Japan’s first methanol dual-fuel crude oil tanker” at compatriot Nihon Shipyard, a joint venture of Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United Corporation.

As informed, the design of the vessel will be based on the design concept formulated by the four-company consortium comprising Idemitsu Tanker, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), NSY, and IINO Lines. The tanker will boast a length of 340 meters, a breadth of 60 meters, and will weigh approximately 309,400 tons.

Furthermore, the unit will use methanol as fuel in addition to conventional fuel oil. It will be equipped with a shaft generator that generates electricity by using the rotation of the main propeller shaft.

According to IINO Lines, this is expected to reduce ship-derived air pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM).

Methanol is expected to contribute to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction strategy set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). According to NYK, it could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 15% compared to the use of conventional heavy oil.

In addition, by using green methanol, such as bio-methanol produced from biomass as a raw material and synthetic methanol (e-methanol) produced using hydrogen derived from renewable energy and recovered CO₂, it will be possible to reduce CO₂ emissions to virtually zero, it was highlighted.

The vessel, which is on charter contract with Idemitsu Tanker, is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

“This initiative embodies one of the key strategies in our mid-term management plan, Formulation and Implementation of Plan to Realize of a Decarbonized Society,” the Japanese shipowner highlighted.

The company also noted that it will continue “to actively introduce technologies that reduce environmental impact, thereby contributing to the realization of a sustainable society”.

To remind, as part of its decarbonization strategy, in June this year, IINO Lines ordered a dual-fuel very large gas carrier (VLGC), which is scheduled for charter with Austria-based provider of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions Borealis.

With a cargo tank capacity of 93,000 cbm, the vessel, dubbed “the world’s first Ice Class IB VLGC”, will transport raw materials to Borealis’ petrochemical plant in Porvoo, Finland.