NYK orders LPG dual-fuel VLGCs to further reduce emissions
Illustration of the LPG dual-fuel VLGC (Source: NYK)
Japanese shipping group NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) has placed an order for two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuelled very large gas carriers (VLGCs) with Japanese yard Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
They will be the first dual-fuelled VLGCs in the NYK fleet. Both ships will be built at Kawasaki’s Sakaide shipyard and are set for delivery in 2022.
The newbuildings will measure 230m long, and 37.2m wide. Tank capacity will be about 86,500cu.m including an on-deck tank capacity of 2,500cu.m. By equipping the ships with LPG tanks on deck, it will be possible to load LPG for fuel separately from the LPG cargo. Having the LPG tanks on deck also extends the cruising range of the vessel when LPG fuel is used even though the size of the vessel remains the same.
With LPG used as fuel, exhaust gas from the ordered VLGCs will contain at least 85% less sulphur oxide and 15% less carbon dioxide compared to conventional VLGCs equipped with fuel-oil engines, NYK said. The operator aims to provide customers with a low-carbon transport mode and contribute to the reduction of environmental damage from shipping.
