NYK's sixth LNG-fuelled car carrier enters service

Japanese shipping company NYK announced on October 19 that its sixth LNG-fuelled car carrier, the Sumire Leader, has entered service. The vessel entered Hiroshima Port in Hiroshima Prefecture on October 17 and Nakanoseki Port in Yamaguchi Prefecture on October 18.

The vessel is the fourth of four LNG-fuelled car carriers that NYK ordered from China Merchants Bureau Nanjing Jinling Shipping Co. The vessel will be engaged in transporting completed vehicles, including from Mazda Motor Corporation.

LNG-fuelled ships offer a number of environmental benefits over traditional ships. They emit significantly less sulfur dioxide (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). LNG is also a cleaner burning fuel, which means that it produces less greenhouse gas emissions.

NYK said it is committed to reducing its environmental impact and has set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company is investing in a variety of sustainable technologies, including LNG-fuelled ships.