Japanese shipping giant K Line said it has signed deals for eight LNG-powered car carriers, including orders for six ships at three shipyards.
K Line said in a statement on Tuesday it entered shipbuilding deals with Japan’s Nihon Shipyard and Shin Kurushima Dockyard, as well as with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard.
The shipper said it has ordered six vessels or two at each yard, but it did not reveal any information about the two remaining vessels.
It would take delivery of the LNG-powered car carriers with a capacity to carry about 7,000 units between fiscal 2023 and 2025, according to the statement.
The firm has earlier this year taken delivery of its first LNG-powered car carrier from Tadotsu yard, part of Imabari Shipbuilding Group.
With a length of 200 meters, the dual-fuel vessel named Century Highway Green features MAN B&W ME-GI engines.
K Line said it opted for LNG as fuel to respond to stricter international fuel rules but also to slash shipping emissions.
In its environmental vision, K Line set the 2030 interim target of improving CO2 emission efficiency by 50 percent over 2008, surpassing the IMO target of 40 percent.
“We are planning to substitute conventional heavy fuel oil with LNG fuel and other new fuels to achieve the targets set forth,” the firm said.