Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), its group company Ferry Sunflower Limited, and Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Kyuden) announced that the Sunflower Kurenai, Japan’s first LNG-powered ferry ordered by MOL and operated by Ferry Sunflower, received its first LNG supply at the Port of Beppu in Oita Prefecture (at the north wharf of Pier 3) from Kyuden.
LNG was supplied via truck-to-ship —the first time in Japan— with a skid, which connected four tank trucks to the ferry. Unlike a conventional method of bunkering LNG by connecting a single tank truck to LNG-fueled vessels, the use of the skid enables the ferry to receive LNG from four tank trucks simultaneously, speeding up the process. The LNG was supplied to the tank trucks by Oita Liquefied Natural Gas Company, Inc., a Kyuden’s group company, and Niyac Corporation transported the LNG and supplied it to the ferry.
The ferry will be deployed on the Osaka-Beppu route operated by Ferry Sunflower and start commercial service on January 13, 2023. Thereafter, LNG fuel will be supplied when the ferry calls at the Port of Beppu. The LNG supplied this time will be used for trial operation ahead of the launch of commercial service.
LNG emits almost no sulfur oxide and has GHG emission reduction effects, such as reduction of CO2 emissions by about 25% compared to conventional fuel oil, and it is the most effective low-carbon ship fuel at this time. MOL, Ferry Sunflower and Kyuden will continue to proactively use environmentally friendly LNG as they work to realize a low-carbon society in Japan.
Source: MOL
