Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (“K” LINE) has decided to procure eight 7,000 units class car pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) by FY2023 to FY2025, following its first LNG-fueled vessel, “CENTURY HIGHWAY GREEN” which was delivered on March 12, 2021.
“K” Line has made an agreement to order the new next-generation of environmentally-friendly car carriers from NIHON SHIPYARD CO LTD, SHIN KURUSHIMA DOCKYARD CO LTD, and CHINA MERCHANTS JINLING SHIPYARD (NANJING) CO LTD, two vessels in each of the three shipyards.
The next-generation of environmentally-friendly vessels are expected to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas (GHG), by 25% to 30%, emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), which cause air pollution, by almost 100%, and emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 80% to 90% with use of LNG fuel and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), compared to conventional vessels using heavy fuel oil.
In accordance with “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 “Securing the Blue Seas for Tomorrow”, the company aims to flexibly and proactively listen to customer demands including environmental issues and find the best solution to contribute to the sustainable development of the society.
In “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 (Note1), the shipping company have set the 2030 interim target of improving CO2 emission efficiency by 50% over 2008, surpassing the IMO target of 40% improvement. It is planning to substitute LNG fuel and other new fuels for conventional heavy fuel oil to achieve the targets set forth.
“K” Line has previously said the decision to operate a LNG-fueled car carrier was part of the company’s long-term environmental management vision.
