World’s first LNG-fuelled panamax commences operation

NAGASAKI : The world’s first LNG-fuelled Panamax-class coal carrier, which was built by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Kyuden), was delivered on 2 October.

The vessel was named “Shoyo” in a naming ceremony held at the Koyagi Shipyard of Oshima Shipyard Co. and began operations after completing the first bunkering.

In particular, NYK transports coal from overseas to Kyuden’s coal-fired power plants. The use of LNG fuel offers excellent environmental performance compared with traditional marine fuels, virtually eliminating sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions and reducing approximately 80% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and 30% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Additionally, Shoyo received its LNG-fuel supply at Japan’s port of Tobata (Fukuoka Prefecture) on 12 October. Bunkering was carried out via shore-to-ship, which supplies fuel directly from the handling facility on shore to the vessel.

Finally, from March 2024, a newly built LNG-fuelled bunkering vessel based in the Setouchi and Kyushu area could deliver LNG fuel through ship-to-ship bunkering.