World's first LNG-fuelled Panamax coal carrier begins ops

Japanese shipping company NYK Line announced on October 13 that the world's first LNG-fuelled Panamax-type coal carrier, the Matsuyo, has begun operations. The vessel will be operated by NYK Line and will transport coal from overseas for Japanese utility Kyushu Electric Power's coal-fired power plants.

LNG fuel reduces sulfur oxides (SOx) by about 100%, nitrogen oxides (NOx) by about 80%, and carbon dioxide by about 30% compared to conventional marine fuel oil, the company said. This makes the Matsuyo a much cleaner and more environmentally friendly option for transporting coal.

The vessel left the Oshima Shipyard's Koyagi yard on October 2 and completed shore-to-ship bunkering at Tobata Port on October 12. This was the first shore to ship bunkering in Japan for an ocean-going LNG-fuelled ship, according to NYK.

The Matsuyo is designed to be compatible with both shore-to-ship and ship-to-ship LNG bunkering. From March 2024, a newly built LNG bunkering vessel based in Setouchi and Kyushu will deliver LNG fuel to Matsuyo through ship-to-ship bunkering.