SEA/LNG Adds Japanese YKIP as Member

SEA/LNG, an industry coalition aiming to accelerate usage of LNG as a marine fuel, has incorporated Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP) as its latest member, it said July 11.

Representing the Japanese ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, YKIP brings essential knowledge from a port’s perspective to SEA/LNG, which is working collaboratively with key players across the entire LNG value chain.

Designated by Japan’s ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism (MLIT) as the official operating company for the Keihin ports serving Yokohama and Kawasaki, YKIP is tasked with the management of integrated operations at container terminals in the Yokohama and Kawasaki area.

Japan is the world’s biggest importer of LNG with 35 regasification terminals and is well placed in terms of both infrastructure and supply to become a major LNG bunkering hub, SEA/LNG said.

YKIP is the second Japanese organisation to join the SEA/LNG in recent weeks after Marubeni Corporation. It takes the latest membership tally to 26.

SEA/LNG was slow to back a resolution last October by the UN's International Maritime Organisation in favour of setting its 0.5% global cap on sulphur content in marine fuels by January 1 2020, as a few of its oil company and shipowner members had not wanted the cap enforced until 2025. However the organisation and all its members now back the new cap.

Shardul Sharma