NS United to construct LNG-fueled coastal limestone carrier

Japanese shipowner NS United Kaiun Kaisha has signed a shipbuilding contract with Nippon Steel, Japex, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) to build a LNG-fueled coastal limestone carrier.

The ship will serve as a replacement for the NSU Naiko’s limestone carrier Shimokita Maru. It will sail between the main routes of the loading port Shiriyamisaki (Aomori Prefecture) and unloading port Muroran (Hokkaido).

In constructing the ship, the roles of the companies are as follows:

• Nippon Steel Corporation and Nippon Steel Cement are ship charterers;
• NS United Kaiun Kaisha is the shipowner/operator;
• Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex) is the LNG supplier;
• Tsuneishi Shipbuilding is the shipyard;
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a propulsion system provider.

The company said the LNG-fueled limestone carrier will start operations in February 2024. It will feature Japan’s first gas-only engine and 2,847 kilowatts per hour capacity lithium-ion battery.

In addition, the LNG bunker fuel tank will use a 7 per cent nickel steel plate by Nippon Steel Corporation. 

The KHI’s gas-only engine is generating propulsion power and onboard electric power during sailing operations. So only LNG will be used for high power, long-distance, and long-duration navigation. Meanwhile, to achieve zero-emission operation, the vessel will use the battery for the propulsion power and the onboard power during entering, leaving, and berthing ports.

The CO2 emission reduction effect of introducing the propulsion system of this vessel is 23.56 per cent compared to the conventional vessels of the same type. It also contains almost no SOx, and NOx emissions are below the standards.

The environment bureau of the Japanese environment ministry and the Maritime Bureau of the ministry of transport consequently adopted the construction of this vessel. Specifically, it falls under the “Projects to promote the introduction of advanced technologies that will simultaneously achieve social innovation and the decarbonization of logistics”.