Central LNG Shipping Japan Corporation (CLS), a joint venture established by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, announces that CLS has ordered an LNG Bunkering Vessel (LBV) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. today. The LBV, which is scheduled to be delivered around September to December 2020, will become the first to be operated in Japan.

Japan’s First LNG Bunkering Vessel to Start Operation in 2020
Caption: Image of LBV - Image courtesy of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

The four companies jointly established CLS and Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation (CLMF) in May of this year to launch the LNG Bunkering Business in the Chubu (central) region of Japan. The LBV will be owned and managed by CLS, and LNG will be supplied to end-users through CLMF.

 

Principal Particulars of LBV:

 LNG cargo tank capacity  3,500 m3
 Gross tonnage  4,100 tons
 Length overall  81.7 m
 Breadth  18.0 m
 Delivery  Sept. – Dec. 2020
 Shipyard  Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.


Merits of LNG

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%.

Source: K-Line