From the right Kota Goto, Executive Officer, Managing Director Head of Corporate Banking Division No.10, MUFG Bank, Ltd, Hironobu Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer NYK, Yoshihito Takahashi, Senior Executive Officer, COO International Business Division, Astomos Energy Corporation, Toshinori Higashimura, Managing Executive Officer, COO Corporate Division, Astomos Energy Corporation, Motohiko Nishimura, Senior Managing Executive Officer, President Energy Solution & Marine Engineering Company, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

NYK strengthens ties with Astomos Energy through jointly owned new LPG Carrier

15/03/2024
by Shipping Telegraph

As their first jointly owned liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier since the two companies shared ownership of Gas Capricorn from 2003, Japan’s NYK Line and Astomos Energy have named the new vessel Gas Garnet.

This is the first new joint ownership with Astomos Energy in 21 Years.

The companies held a naming ceremony on March 1, 2024 at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

The vessel with a length of 229.90m and capacity 86,953 m3 was christened “Gas Garnet” by Yoshihito Takahashi, senior executive officer of Astomos Energy, whilst the ceremonial rope was cut by his wife.

The vessel has a breadth of 37.20 meters and is equipped with a dual-fuel engine that uses heavy oil and LPG.

In addition, the ship is equipped with a shaft generator that generates electricity by rotating the shaft connecting the main engine to the propeller, enabling the vessel to stop operating the diesel generator during standard navigation and realize full LPG-fueled navigation.

Furthermore, a small amount of heavy oil is used as pilot fuel for LPG fuel ignition.

In accordance with NYK Line, compared to conventional heavy oil-fueled vessels, sulfur oxides (SOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the exhaust gas are reduced by more than 95% and 20%, respectively, when the ship is fueled by LPG.

^{Source: NYK Line}