Japanese Quartet to Work on LNG Bunkering

Four Japanese companies -- two Japanese shipowners, a utility, and the trading group of a world-class group -- have begun talks on forming a new business that would supply LNG as a marine fuel to ships in the Chubu (central region) of Japan, they said in a joint statement January 26.

They are shipowners Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), major Japanese utility Chubu Electric Power, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (the trading arm of Toyota Group). The four companies will jointly discuss specific LNG customers and supply methods.  

Studies suggest that compared to heavy fuel oil, the use of LNG can significantly reduce emissions of sulfur oxides and particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide. 

LNG is expected to become an important alternative to heavy fuel oil due to its relatively low emissions of air polluting substances and greenhouse gases, which will enable ships to meet increasingly stringent international regulations on emissions, the companies said.