Japan's K Line Launches LNG-fuelled Car Carrier

Japanese shipping firm K Line on July 31 launched an LNG-fuelled car carrier vessel that is being built at Imabari Shipbuilding, it said on August 24.

K Line had placed the order for the vessel in December 2018. Construction is expected to be completed in the Japanese financial year that ends March 31 next year, K Line said. The 73,800 metric ton vessel will have a capacity to load a maximum 7,020 vehicles.

The vessel's main ME-GI engine can run on both LNG and diesel. It is equipped with a exhaust gas recirculation system to comply with NOx Tier III regulations, which require 80% less NOx emissions than Tier I standards, K Line said. Its auxiliary engines are also dual-fuel and compliant with the NOx Tier III standards even in diesel mode, thanks to a selective catalytic reduction system.