A ceremony for the LNG bunkering vessel* "KEYS Azalea" was held on March 28 at the Yamatomachi Shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Yamaguchi Prefecture to mark the vessel's delivery. Officials from KEYS Bunkering West Japan Ltd. (KEYS)** and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) attended and prayed for the vessel's safe voyage.

KEYS, a joint venture established by Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX CO., LTD., and Saibu Gas Co., Ltd., will be the first to operate in the Kyushu and Setouchi areas. (Related press releases were issued on March 29, 2022, and July 12, 2023.)

KEYS Azalea will provide domestic coastal transport of LNG to consumers in the Kyushu and Setouchi areas and LNG bunkering for oceangoing vessels calling ports in the region. This is Japan's first LNG bunkering project to supply LNG to vessels in this vast area. The construction of the ship was funded by a subsidy adopted under MLIT’s FY2021 LNG Bunkering Base Formation Project.***

KEYS Azalea is Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can use both LNG and heavy oil as fuel for the main power generation system.

The four companies and KEYS will continue to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions toward realizing a carbon-neutral society.

LOA: 82.4 meters
Beam: 18.2 meters
Draft: 4.8 meters
Gross Tonnage: 4,744 tons
LNG Loadable Capacity: 3,500 cubic meters
Driving Power: Electricity (dual-fuel engine (consuming LNG or fuel oil))
Builder: Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

* LNG bunkering vessel
A small vessel supplying LNG fuel to LNG-fueled vessels


** KEYS Bunkering West Japan Ltd.
Headquarters: Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Representative: Takashi Mitsuyoshi
Details of business: Sales of LNG fuel; owner of LNG bunkering vessel
Stockholders: Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. 40%; NYK Line 40%; ITOCHU ENEX CO., LTD. 15%; Saibu Gas Co., Ltd. 5%
Establishment: February 2, 2023


***Approved for 2021 LNG Bunkering Base Formation Project (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/port02_hh_000161.html