Japan’s first LNG bunker vessel (LBV) was successfully launched at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

The LBV is scheduled to be delivered at the end of September 2020 and will be the first LBV to be operated in Japan. After the delivery, the LBV will be based at JERA’s Kawagoe Thermal Power Station and commence ship-to-ship LNG bunkering business for LNG-fueled vessels.

In 2018, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (“K” Line), JERA Co. Inc., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) jointly established Central LNG Shipping Japan Corporation (CLS), which owns the LBV and ordered its building, and Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation (CLMF), which will promote the LNG bunkering business in the Chubu (central) region of Japan.

The expertise and strengths of each company will be utilized to provide LNG bunkering solution in the Chubu region and promote a shift to marine LNG for ships.

LNG cargo tank capacity: 3,500 m³
　Gross tonnage: 4,100 tons
　Length overall: 81.7 m
　Breadth: 18.0 m
　Delivery: September 2020
　Shipyard: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.,
　Sakaide Works

Compared to heavy fuel oil, the use of LNG can reduce emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) by approximately 100%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by as much as 80%, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) by approximately 30%.