Japan’s shipping giant NYK reportedly plans to order twelve LNG-powered car carriers at two compatriot yards.
NYK would invest over 100 billion yen ($912 million) in the LNG-powered vessels, according to a report by Nikkei on Monday.
The shipper would order the vessels at Shin Kurushima Dockyard and Nihon Shipyard, which is a joint venture of Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United, the report said.
In addition, each of the car carriers would have a loading capacity of about 7,000 vehicles.
NYK has last year taken delivery of Japan’s first LNG-powered pure car truck carrier, Sakura Leader.
Moreover, NYK said in February it had ordered four LNG-powered PCTCs with the same capacity as the new vessels from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard.
The firm has been investing heavily in LNG-powered vessels over the years as it looks to cut emissions and comply with more stringent IMO rules.
NYK has previously said it plans to replace current vessels with around 40 newbuild LNG-fueled PCTCs over the next decade to achieve its environmental targets.
NYK aims to reduce CO2 emissions per ton-kilometer of transport by 50% by 2050.
The shipping firm also aims to further advance to zero-emission vessels utilizing low-emission marine fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia from around the mid-2030s.