MOL: new methane tech will significantly cut emissions from LNG-powered ships

Japan’s shipping giant MOL and its partners have received basic design approval for a new methane system which they claim would significantly slash emissions from LNG-powered vessels.

MOL, Hitachi Zoshen, and Yanmar Power Technologies have won approval in principle for their methane oxidation catalyst system from classification society ClassNK, according to a joint statement on Wednesday.

ClassNK confirmed that the proposed system meets the requirements of the IGF Code and other regulations.

The system reduces methane slip by placing a methane oxidation catalyst in an LNG-fueled engine and oxidizing the methane.

This is the first time in the world that a methane oxidation catalyst system has received approval in principle, the partners said.

Backed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Hitachi Zosen and YPT created the system design while MOL and Namura Shipbuilding would build the actual demonstration vessel and design the system’s installation.

The project aims to further reduce the environmental impact of LNG-fueled engines by achieving a methane slip reduction rate of more than 70 percent over a six-year period from FY2021 to FY2026, the statement said.

This approval marks an “important first step” toward establishing the technology for this system, the statement said.

MOL previously said it plans to have 90 LNG-powered vessels in its fleet by 2030 as it looks to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.

The shipping giant is working on several projects and it recently said that Mitsubishi Shipbuilding had launched Japan’s first LNG-fueled ferry, Sunflower Kurenai.

- Advertisements -

Most Popular

QatarEnergy picks shipowners for 18 giant LNG carriers

LNG giant QatarEnergy has selected shipowners to own and operate 18 Q-Max LNG carriers as part of its massive...

Canada’s FortisBC, Seaspan win provincial approval for Tilbury LNG jetty

Canadian utility and operator of the Tilbury LNG facility in the province of British Columbia, FortisBC, and its partner...

VTTI, IKAV to take majority stake in Italy’s Adriatic LNG terminal

Rotterdam-based storage terminal owner VTTI, co-owned by Vitol, IFM, and Adnoc, joined forces with German asset manager IKAV to...

More News Like This

Hudong-Zhonghua launches two LNG carriers

Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua has on Sunday launched two liquefied natural gas carriers as it looks to deliver in total...

Japan’s MOL takes delivery of LNG-powered car carrier

Japan's shipping giant MOL has taken delivery of the LNG dual-fuel car carrier, Cerulean Ace. The Onishi Shipyard of Shin...

MOL’s LNG carrier starts trials in China

MOL's 174,000-cbm LNG carrier, Greeenergy Ocean, has started its sea trials in China, according to Hudong-Zhonghua. The LNG carrier (H1880A)...

HD Hyundai Heavy scores order to build FSRU for $364 million

South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has won a contract to build one floating storage and regasification unit...