Japan’s shipping giant K Line has welcomed a new LNG-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) into its feet.
The vessel in question is the 7,000-ceu Nereus Highway built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu), according to a statement by K Line.
K Line said this is the first vessel of two it ordered at the Chinese shipbuilder back in September 2021.
The 199.9 meters long and 38 meters wide ship features the latest dual-fuel electronic control engine, “7X62DF-2.1 iCER” by WinGD, which will reduce methane slip when using LNG fuel, the firm said.
LNG fuel is expected to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), by 25 percent to 30 percent, emissions of sulfur oxide (SOx) by almost 100 percent, and emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by about 75 percent, compared to conventional vessels using heavy fuel oil, K Line said.
K Line previously said it aims to have about 40 LNG-powered vessels in its fleet by 2030, as part of the company’s plans to slash emissions.
Earlier this year, the firm took delivery of its first capesize bulk carrier equipped with a dual-fuel diesel engine that utilizes LNG as its primary fuel.
Besides LNG-fueled vessels, K Line also has a large fleet of LNG carriers.
According to its latest financial report, the firm had 46 LNG carriers in its fleet, including 44 owned vessels, as of the end of June this year.
