Asia/Pacific News
Japan's First LNG-fueled Vessel to Serve Yokohama, Kawasaki Ports
Japan's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled vessel, the tugboat Sakigake, has been charted to NYK Group subsidiary Wing Maritime Service Corporation and will operate mainly at the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, the company announced Tuesday.
NYK received delivery of Sakigake on August 31 at the Oppama factory of Keihin Dock Co. Ltd.; this is the second environmently-friendly tugboat operated by Wing Maritime, following Tsubasa in March 2013.
Keihin Dock worked with Niigata Power Systems Co. Ltd. to overcome the problem of creating a relatively small sized LNG-powered vessel, saying they designed and manufactured an engine that can use either LNG and diesel oil while maintaining the hull form and steering performance of a traditional tugboat.
Sources says Sakigake will emit about 30 percent less carbon dioxide, 80 percent less nitrogen oxide, and no sulfur oxide when using LNG.
Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd. will supply the gas for the tug, from a tanker truck at a Yokohama pier; this follows a July 2015 trial fueling of the vessel, the first ever such procedure carried out in Japan.
The NYK Group's next objective, according to its `More Than Shipping 2018' medium-term management plan, is to participate in the LNG bunkering business.
Earlier this year, it was learned that Japan is pushing for ships to use LNG not only to help cut carbon emissions but respond in the event of an energy crisis.
