NYK Line, Engie, and Mitsubishi Launch New LNG Bunkering Brand Gas4Sea

Gas4Sea, which is set to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2016, will use a purpose-built 5,000 cbm capacity LNG bunkering vessel.

NYK Line Tuesday announced that, along with ENGIE and Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi), the company has launched a new brand for their joint global marketing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel called Gas4Sea.

"Gas4Sea aims to lead innovation through the ship-to-ship supply of LNG for the maritime sector," explained NYK Line.

Gas4Sea, which is set to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2016, will use a purpose-built 5,000 cubic metre (cbm) capacity LNG bunkering vessel.

Said to be the first of its kind in the market and designed to meet the needs of a wide range of customers, the bunkering vessel will bunker vessels at the Port of Zeebrugge, as well as other nearby ports.

NYK Line says the partners intend to expand Gas4Sea's LNG bunkering services into other regions in the future through collaboration with stakeholders, including shipping companies, port authorities, terminal operators, regional suppliers, and local governments and regulators.

"As a leading global shipping company, NYK is also striving to find reliable and environmentally sustainable solutions to help address society's need to reduce emissions," said

"We believe that the use of  LNG as a marine fuel is a key innovation in this search and through Gas4Sea, using the world’s first purpose-built LNG bunkering vessel, we and our partners ENGIE and Mitsubishi Corporation will offer ship owners and operators the opportunity to participate in this innovation and further enhance our industry's ability to operate in a more environmentally responsible way."

Gas4Sea is said to built on a a framework agreement reached ENGIE, Mitsubishi, and NYK Line in 2014, intended to combine NYK Line's shipping expertise with ENGIE and Mitsubishi's LNG supply portfolio and terminal access.

In June, NYK Line announced it would partner with Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Gas) and Japan's transport and economy ministries on a study that will examine the viability of a LNG bunkering station at the Port of Yokohama.