Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL) has announced the delivery and entry into service of an LNG dual-fuel coal carrier constructed as a dedicated vessel for Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. The vessel is Japan's first coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system. A naming and delivery ceremony was held at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd to mark the vessel's completion, during which the vessel was named MAIZURU KAZENOMAI.
The name MAIZURU KAZENOMAI combines ‘Maizuru’, the location of the Maizuru power plant, with ‘KAZENOMAI’, which reflects the vessel's ability to sail utilising wind power. The name embodies the hope that the vessel will continue to sail safely and reliably.
This vessel is engaged in transporting coal to Kansai Electric Power's Maizuru power plant and plays an important role in supporting a stable supply of electricity. To reduce its environmental impact, it features a dual-fuel main engine capable of using LNG as its primary fuel, as well as the Wind Challenger, a wind-assisted propulsion system jointly developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding.
Compared with conventional heavy fuel oil-fired vessels, the vessel is expected to reduce greenhouse gas and nitrous oxide emissions and significantly reduce sulfur oxide emissions through the use of LNG fuel. Furthermore, the combined effect of the LNG dual-fuel main engine and the Wind Challenger wind-assisted propulsion system is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to approximately 30%.
