Photo credit: Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line)
Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) has officially named its newly build very large gas carrier (VLGC), the Luna Pathfinder, in a ceremony held on August 5 at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The vessel marks the sixth dual-fuel LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) carrier ordered by NYK, following the delivery of Liberty Pathfinder in October 2024.
Upon its completion, the ship will be chartered by Tokyo-headquartered Astomos Energy Corporation for the domestic and global transportation of LPG. Astomos is a big player in the LPG market.
Approximately 50 guests attended the ceremony, including Toshinobu Sato, vice president of Astomos Energy, and Hironobu Watanabe, managing executive officer of NYK.
The VLGC, designed also to carry ammonia, was officially named by Sato, and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting was carried out by his wife.
“Pathfinder” denotes a guiding marker, while “Luna,” the Roman goddess of the moon, evokes imagery of tranquility and peaceful voyages under the night sky.
The 229.90 meters in length ship is fitted with a dual-fuel engine that can operate on both heavy oil and LPG.
“By utilizing the rotation of the shaft connected from the main engine to the propeller to generate electricity, the diesel generators can be shut down during regular navigation, enabling operation primarily on LPG fuel,” NYK said in its statement.
In addition to LPG, the vessel is equipped to carry ammonia, for which future demand is projected to rise as part of global decarbonization initiatives.
