Japan’s shipping giant K Line has taken delivery of the 210,000-dwt LNG-powered bulker, Cape Hayate, from Japan Marine United’s Tsu shipyard. The vessel will serve Japanese steel manufacturer JFE Steel under a charter deal.
K Line said in a statement that this is the first capesize bulk carrier in its fleet to be equipped with a dual-fuel diesel engine that utilizes LNG as its primary fuel.
The 299.9 meters long and 50 meters wide ship features the latest dual-fuel electronic control engine, “7X62DF-2.1 iCER” by WinGD, which will reduce methane slip when using LNG fuel, the firm said.
LNG fuel is expected to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), by 25 percent to 30 percent, emissions of sulfur oxide (SOx) by almost 100 percent, and emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by about 75 percent, compared to conventional vessels using heavy fuel oil, K Line said.
K Line will also install “Seawing”, an automated kite system utilizing wind power, it said.
The LNG-powered vessel will be engaged in the carrying of steel raw materials for JFE Steel under a long-term charter contract.
Back in 2021, JFE Steel signed long-term charter deals for three 210,000-ton LNG-powered bulk carriers.
The steel producer signed the three deals with compatriot shipping giants NYK Line, K Line, and MOL.
