Japan’s MOL orders more LNG-powered car carriers

Japan’s shipping giant MOL has ordered two more LNG-powered car carriers at compatriot Nihon Shipyard.

A spokesperson for MOL confirmed the order to LNG Prime on Friday for two LNG-powered vessels with a capacity of 7,000 units.

MOL now has six LNG-powered car carriers with a capacity of 7,000 units at Nihon, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson did not provide the delivery dates for the vessels or any additional information.

Brokers said that Nihon is expected to deliver these two new carriers in 2026.

Besides these six vessels, MOL also has four LNG-powered car carriers with the same capacity on order at Shin Kurushima Dockyard.

In August 2021, MOL placed orders for four LNG-powered vessels at the two compatriot yards and added four more in May 2022.

MOL will take delivery of these vessels between 2024 and 2025.

VesselsValue data shows that MOL will pay $95 million per vessel for the order at Nihon in May 2022.

MOL said that all of these car carriers will adopt the “Blue” series name and new hull color design.

The shipping firm previously said that it plans to have 90 LNG-fueled vessels in its fleet by 2030.

However, these 90 vessels now also include methanol-powered ships.

MOL recently signed a basic agreement with Kambara Kisen to charter a newbuilding methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier.

Most Popular

South Korea’s Posco says first LNG carrier to start ops in H2

Posco International, a unit of South Korean steel producer Posco, plans to start shipping LNG with its first dedicated LNG carrier in the second half of this year.

Canada’s Cedar LNG names FLNG

Canada’s Cedar LNG, a joint venture of Canada’s Pembina Pipeline and the Haisla Nation, has picked a name for its floating LNG facility, which will be located in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation, on Canada’s West Coast.

Atlantic LNG shipping rates continue to decrease

Atlantic LNG freight shipping rates continued to decrease this week, while European prices also dropped compared to last week.

More News Like This

MOL says it will consider both Chinese and Korean yards for new LNG carrier orders

Japan's MOL said it will consider both Chinese and South Korean yards for new orders of liquefied natural gas carriers. This follows recent media reports suggesting that MOL intends to suspend new LNG carrier orders to Chinese shipyards.

MOL orders LNG-fueled VLCC for charter to Idemitsu Tanker

Japan's shipping giant MOL has ordered a new LNG-fueled very large crude carrier (VLCC) to sail under a long-term time charter contract with compatriot Idemitsu Tanker.

ONE plans LNG-powered containership order

Ocean Network Express (ONE), a joint venture of Japan's NYK, MOL, and K Line is eyeing an order for LNG dual-fuel container vessels, according to shipbuilding sources.

MOL’s LNG fleet continues to expand

MOL's large fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers expanded to 107 vessels as of the end of March this year.