NYK Lines takes delivery of dual-fuel LPG carrier
Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) has taken delivery of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel LPG carrier from Tokyo-based manufacturing conglomerate Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).
PHOTO: A model of NYK Line's LPG dual-fuel LPG carrier Latana Planet. KHI
The 84,000 cbm LPG carrier, Latana Planet, can run on both LPG and low-sulfur fuel oil. The vessel is the 69th LPG carrier built by KHI and the fourth one with a dual-fuel main engine.
The carrier will be chartered by LPG trading company Astomos Energy Corporation.
KHI claims that LPG as fuel significantly reduces sulphur oxides (SOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and other pollutants compared with marine fuel oil.
The vessel will join a small fleet of 45 LPG-fuelled LPG carriers in operation globally, according to the classification society DNV.
However, LPG seems to be a preferred alternative fuel choice among LPG carrier owners, with LPG carriers making up most LPG-fuelled vessels. There are 48 LPG-fuelled vessels in operation worldwide, of which 45 are LPG carriers and three are gas tankers.
The number of LPG-fuelled vessels will increase to 127 towards 2025, with 79 vessels on order - 71 LPG carriers and four each of gas tankers and ethane carriers.
KHI says it aims to “develop and build more LPG-fueled LPG carriers” that “meet environmental standards” and “contribute to the establishment of a low-carbon/decarbonized society.”
By Tuhin Roy
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