Japanese K Line, Uyeno Join Sea/LNG
Sea\LNG, a trade body that promotes LNG as a marine fuel, has announced March 1 it has added two new members from Japan: K Line Group and Uyeno Group.
“We expect long-term global demand for LNG to grow as a clean energy resource. In addition to conventional LNG transport operation, our new division will also spearhead efforts to enter new business fields, such as floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) which can cope with the needs of emerging economies that require shorter lead times,” K Line’s Satoshi Kanamori said.
The trade body already has a host of members from Japan including Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP), Marubeni, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co, NYK Line, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and Sumitomo Corporation.
The K Line Group is an integrated logistics company which owns and operates various fleets tailored to worldwide marine transportation needs. In April 2017, the group launched a new business division devoted to the transportation of LNG and LPG, to broaden its involvement in both the upstream and downstream business of the global energy value chain.
Uyeno Group meanwhile, is a group of organisations which provides specialised logistics solutions for the storage and transportation of petroleum and petro-chemical products.
“As attitudes and regulations surrounding the marine and energy sectors transform with the times, Uyeno Group is diversifying its business offering into the clean energy business,” Uyeno executive managing officer Kazutoshi Takao said.
Peter Keller, SEA\LNG chairman and executive vice president, Tote, said: “Collaboration, demonstration and communication on key areas such as safety, regulation, emissions and the economic case for LNG are essential to strengthening the increasing confidence and demand required for an effective and efficient global LNG value chain by 2020 [the year that lower limits on sulphur content in marine fuels take effect]. Our members in Japan are doing important work, both in the region and across the world, which contributes significantly to helping us achieve our mission."