NYK has placed an order with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd for its third liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dual-fuel very large LPG / liquefied ammonia gas (NH3) carrier (VLGC). The ship will be constructed at the KHI Sakaide Works shipyard and delivered in 2024.
The vessel will be equipped with separate cargo tanks designed to carry LPG and ammonia at the same time, similar to our first two ordered LPG dual-fuel extremely large LPG / NH3 carriers, allowing it to adapt flexibly to diverse trade patterns.
In addition to the LPG dual-fuel engine, the ship will have a shaft generator that can generate electricity during the voyage by using the rotation of the shaft that connects the main engine to the propeller. Since the diesel generator can be stopped during normal seagoing transit, realizing full navigation with LPG fuel will be possible except for the use of a small amount of pilot fuel.
When LPG is used as fuel, exhaust gas from the ordered VLGC will contain at least 95% less sulfur oxide (SOx) and 20% less CO2 compared to NYK’s conventional VLGCs using heavy-oil fired engines. The vessel is expected to be given notations by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) as a VLGC that has a preparatory design in accordance with the guidelines issued by ClassNK so that this vessel may use ammonia fuel in the future.
