NYK orders first two LPG-fuelled gas carriers from KHI

The vessels, which are scheduled to be delivered in 2022, will be the first LPG-fuelled VLGCs to be operated by NYK Line. A contract has been signed with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Both vessels will be built at KHI Sakaide Works Shipyard.

The vessel has a beam of 37.2 metres, and a draft of 11.6 metres. The 84,000cbm gas carrier includes twin 1,250cbm capacity deck-mounted LPG fuel tanks. The solution means that bunkering of LPG for fuel can be separated from the loading and discharge of LPG cargoes. The solution also means that the operational range of the LPG carrier can be extended with affecting the cargo capacity of the vessel.

NYK notes that the new dual-fuel VLGCs will significantly exceed the International Maritime Organization (IMO) EEDI phase 3 requirements for VLGCs. The vessel is additionally expected to reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by approximately 85 percent and carbon dioxide (CO2) by approximately 15 percent compared to conventional heavy oil–fired engines.