Japan’s JMU delivers LNG-fuelled bulk carrier

Japanese shipbuilder Japan Marine United (JMU) delivered an LNG-fuelled Capesize bulk carrier on 30 May to domestic shipping firm Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (Kline).

JMU completed construction of the 210,870dwt Cape Hayate at its Tsu shipyard in west Japan's Mie prefecture. Kline will charter the vessel for Japanese steel mill JFE Steel. This will be the first LNG-fuelled bulk carrier for Kline to charter.

The ship is equipped with a dual-fuel engine, which can burn boil-off gas in its cargo tank and conventional marine fuel. It also plans to introduce in the future an automated kite system assisting propulsion power of the vessel by using wind force.

The vessel can use LNG to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25-30pc compared with ships using conventional marine fuel, sulphur oxide emissions by 100pc and nitrogen oxide emissions by 75pc.

JMU also built for JFE Steel another LNG-fuelled 210,000dwt Capesize bulker the SG Ocean. It has been chartered by domestic shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha.

JMU is promoting the development of LNG-fuelled ships, while planning to introduce ammonia and hydrogen as alternative marine fuels. JFE Steel is also aiming to transition its fleet to LNG-fuelled vessels, planning to introduce ammonia and carbon recycled methane-fuelled bulk carriers to achieve decarbonisation of its operations.

By Nanami Oki