Mitsui O.S.K. Lines takes delivery of LNG dual-fuel bulk carrier built by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding

QINGDAO : On November 5, a delivery and naming ceremony for a 210,000-ton LNG dual-fuel bulk carrier took place at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Yard in Huangdao District, Qingdao. The Consul General of Japan in Qingdao, Saito, attended the event.

The vessel was ordered by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and built by Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and the largest shipbuilder in Shandong Province by completion volume. The ship will be used to transport bulk commodities such as iron ore from third countries.

According to the Consulate-General of Japan in Qingdao, China’s shipbuilding industry currently accounts for nearly 60% of the world’s completed ship tonnage and remains active despite recent economic conditions. As part of the global transition toward low-carbon energy, the shipping industry is gradually shifting from conventional heavy fuel oil to LNG, although LNG-powered ships still represent less than 5% of the global fleet.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which operates the world’s largest LNG carrier fleet, is accelerating the introduction of LNG-fueled ships to achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050. The use of LNG instead of heavy fuel oil is said to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide by 25–30%, eliminate sulfur oxide emissions, and cut nitrogen oxide emissions by about 75%.

The newly delivered vessel has been named “RURI EARTH,” meaning “Blue Earth,” reflecting the company’s low-carbon ambitions.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) is a Japanese shipping company headquartered in Tokyo. It operates one of the world’s largest fleets, covering dry bulk, LNG, tanker, and container shipping.

Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. is a Chinese shipbuilding enterprise based in Qingdao, Shandong Province. It operates under China State Shipbuilding Corporation and specializes in the construction of bulk carriers, oil tankers, and offshore engineering vessels.