Japan’s shipping giant MOL has ordered six large LNG-powered vessels at yards in China, as part of its plans to have 90 LNG-fueled ships by 2030.
MOL said in a statement on Thursday it signed a deal with CSSC’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding for the construction of four 210,000-dwt LNG-powered Capesize bulkers.
This is MOL’s first time to order newbuilding vessels from this shipyard.
These bulkers will be about 300 meters long and 50 meters wide.
MOL said it would take delivery of these ships in succession from 2025 through 2026.
In addition, MOL concluded a shipbuilding contract with Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries for two 309,000-dwt LNG-fueled very large crude carriers.
The two VLCCs will be about 339.5 meters long and 60 meters wide.
China’s Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering, jointly operated by KHI and China COSCO Shipping, will build these VLCCs and deliver them in 2025 and 2026.
MOL did not reveal the price tag of the deals.
The firm said it has ordered 16 ocean-going LNG-fueled vessels which includes these Capesize bulkers and VLCCs, in addition to car carriers, bulkers, and six coastal vessels including ferries, one tugboat, and a coastal cargo vessel.
MOL added it would “further continue to widen the use of LNG fuel as an initiative that it can take now, to accelerate toward the complete elimination of GHG emissions.”