Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel Kaguya has completed the country’s first ship-to-ship fueling operation to a NYK car carrier.
Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan, a venture consisting of K Line, JERA, Toyota Tsusho, and NYK Line, owns the vessel.
Kaguya first loaded LNG at JERA’s Kawagoe thermal power station, which will be the vessels’ base.
The ship supplied the fuel to NYK’s PCTC Sakura Leader at the berth of Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding.
The 81.7 meters long 3,500-cbm bunkering vessel will soon start supplying LNG to ships in the Chubu region using the STS bunkering method, according to the venture.
These include NYK’s LNG-fueled Sakura Leader and K-Line’s new car carrier scheduled for delivery this fiscal year.
The quartet aims to boost LNG bunkering in the region to slash emissions and comply with more stringent IMO rules.