Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company (MGC) has taken delivery of a dual-fuel methanol carrier chartered from Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) from the HD Hyundai Mipo shipyard.
The 47,960 dwt Kohzan Maru VII is powered by a Hyundai-MAN B&W 6G50ME-C9.6-LGIM electronically controlled dual-fuel two-stroke engine. One of its two fuels is methanol, seen as a next-generation fuel for truly sustainable operation.
The Kohzan Maru VII is Japan’s first dual-fuel, ocean-going, methanol-transport vessel chartered by a domestic shipper on a long-term basis. MGC and MOL began operating Japan’s first methanol-dedicated vessel, the Kohzan Maru, in 1983, to safely and efficiently transport methanol by sea. The Kohzan Maru VII will benefit from expertise accumulated in the years since to transport environmentally sustainable methanol derived from renewable resources.
MOL and MGC have steadily pursued innovative, industry-leading maritime transportation solutions to meet evolving needs. Through their operation of the new dual-fuel methanol vessel, the two companies expect to advance their contributions to a more carbon-neutral world.
Carbopath is MGC’s environmentally sustainable platform for carbon cycling that uses captured CO2 emissions, waste plastics, biomass, etc to manufacture methanol, which is then converted into fuels, materials and chemicals. MGC promotes cross-industry collaboration to advance Carbopath for the realisation of circular economies. The company is committed to sustainable maritime transportation fuelled by eco-friendly methanol as well as supplying methanol and environmental infrastructure for the marine fuel market. MGC expects to expand its methanol-based value chain spanning manufacturing, supply, transportation and utilisation.
Image: Dual-fuel methanol carrier ‘Kohzan Maru VII’ (source: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical)
