Japan's NYK receives its 5th LNG-fuelled PCTC

Japanese shipping company NYK has taken the delivery of its fifth LNG-fuelled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) named Freesia Leader, the company said on July 25. The vessel arrived at the Port of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Upon reaching the port, the PCTC received LNG fuel from Kaguya, an LNG-bunkering ship operated by Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation, a joint venture that includes NYK and other companies. The PCTC has a length of 199.9 m and a loadable cargo capacity of 7,000 units.

This PCTC is the third out of four LNG-fuelled vessels of its kind constructed by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co. The primary purpose of the Freesia Leader is to transport finished vehicles, including those for Toyota Motor Corporation, and cater to other customers who are keen on reducing their environmental footprint in logistics, NYK said.

The NYK Group has set a long-term target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its oceangoing business by 2050. Their ultimate goal is to launch zero-emission ships that run on low-environmental-load marine fuels like ammonia or hydrogen.

In the meantime, they are positioning LNG as a bridge solution, as it is a low-carbon marine fuel. NYK plans to take delivery of a total of 20 new LNG-fuelled PCTCs by 2028.