Photo credit: MOL
The Japanese shipping group Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has secured employment with a large international energy company headquartered in Stavanger, Norway for its dual-fuel VLCC newbuilding Energia Viking.
MOL said the 309,000-dwt Energia Viking is the first LNG dual-fuel VLCC delivered by the MOL Group and sailing under a charter contract with Equinor.
MOL announced that on July 29, its group company, MOL Energia Pte. Ltd. held a naming ceremony for the newbuilding very large crude carrier (VLCC) Energia Viking for Equinor ASA at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS).
DACKS is a shipyard in Dalian, China, jointly operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited (China COSCO Shipping).
The vessel is equipped with an LNG fuel tank with a capacity exceeding 10,000m3, according to the company’s statement.
In addition, with consideration for crew comfort, MOL has introduced a third place onboard called IKOI, which serves as a relaxing space distinct from both living places and working areas. This is the first time that IKOI has been introduced on a VLCC operated by MOL.
The company is proactively adopting LNG as a low-carbon fuel through an immediate approach, aiming to deploy 90 LNG/methanol-fueled vessels by 2030.
About 40 LNG fueled vessels, including the Energia Viking, are being developed, and six VLCCs are scheduled to be delivered one after another starting in 2025. Three of those VLCCs, including the Energia Viking, are slated to operate under a charter agreement with Equinor.
