At the Japanese Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works’ Enoura Plant, which is owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., was today the launching and naming ceremony of the newbuild LNG bunkering vessel “KEYS Azalea”. The vessel is named after the azalea, the official flower of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, where the owners KEYS is based.
KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation (KEYS), is a joint venture established by the Japanese companies Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX CO.,LTD., and Saibu Gas Co., Ltd
After her delivery in March 2024, the vessel will participate in the LNG coastal transportation business, in addition to LNG bunkering for oceangoing vessels calling at ports in the Kyushu-Setouchi area. This will be Japan’s first LNG bunkering project to supply LNG to vessels over the vast Kyushu and Setouchi area, KEYS informs.
“KEYS Azalea” will be Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can operate on both LNG and fuel oil. The use of LNG fuel offers excellent environmental performance compared with traditional marine fuels and it is expected to be a bridge solution for decarbonization, virtually eliminating sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions and reducing approximately 80% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, as well as 30% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
“KEYS Azalea” is 82.4 meters LOA, 18.2 meters beam, 4.8 meters draft with a LNG Loadable Capacity of 3,500 cubic meters.
