Japan’s MOL, Japex wrap up Tomakomai LNG bunkering trial

Japan’s MOL, Tomakomai Port Authority, and Japex, have completed an LNG bunkering trial in Tomakomai, located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

The trial which took place in the port on September 8 involved the LNG-fueled tugboat Ishin, owned by MOL and operated by its company Nihon Tug-Boat, according to a statement by MOL.

MOL’s tug received LNG via a truck-to-ship operation.

Ishin is currently engaged in escorting large freighters and other vessels during port calling in/out operations, mainly in Port of Sakai-Semboku, Osaka.

This is the third LNG bunkering trial for the tug, following earlier trials in Kobe and Nagoya.

The tug also also received for the first time carbon-neutral LNG via a truck-to-ship method at the wharf in Sakai Senboku Port in September last year.

Following the successful trial in the Tomakomai port, Japex said in a separate statement that it would make effort to build an LNG bunkering base at the port.

From 2019 to 2020, Tomakomai Port Authority and Japex joined forces for the “Tomakomai Port LNG Bunkering Study Group” to study LNG bunkering in the port.

“In addition, we aim to make contributions to promote building of LNG bunkering bases in other ports in Japan and abroad,” Japex said.

Most Popular

Shell adds another LNG carrier to its fleet

A unit of UK-based LNG giant Shell has added another chartered liquefied natural gas carrier to its fleet.

Energy Transfer’s Lake Charles LNG secures DOE extension

Texas-based Energy Transfer has secured a permit extension from the US DOE to start exports from its proposed Lake Charles LNG export facility in Louisiana.

Santos CEO expects Papua LNG FID in early 2026

France's TotalEnergies and its partners plan to take a final investment decision on the Papua LNG export project in Papua New Guinea in the first quarter of 2026, according to Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher.

More News Like This

MOL’s LNG carrier fleet stands at 104 vessels

MOL's large fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers had 104 vessels as of the end of June this year.

MOL, Equinor name LNG-powered VLCC

Japan's shipping giant MOL has named an LNG dual-fuel very large crude carrier which will serve Norway's Equinor under a charter deal.

DNV approves LNG-powered LCO2 carrier

Classification society DNV has awarded a general approval for ship application certificate to Japan's MOL, Malaysia's MISC and Petronas CCS Ventures, and China's SDARI for their jointly-developed LNG-powered liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier design.

HD Hyundai Heavy kicks off work on Gdansk FSRU

South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has officially started building MOL's floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), which will serve Gaz-System's Gdansk LNG project in Poland.