Under the ‘Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (Program)’ jointly operated by Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK has evaluated a 26300 dwt LNG dual-fuelled chemical tanker, ‘Fairchem Pioneer’ (IMO No. 9965552) jointly developed by Fukuoka Shipbuilding Co and Fairfield Japan (FJL), currently under construction at Fukuoka Shipbuilding, to be chartered to FJL.
DBJ provided financing to Fukuoka Shipbuilding. Under the programme, ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scoring model jointly developed by DBJ from the perspective of decarbonisation, environmentally friendly performance, and innovativeness, while DBJ provides investment and financing.
Fukuoka Shipbuilding, which has shipbuilding yards in Fukuoka City and Nagasaki City, is a shipbuilding company with strength in building chemical tankers. FJL, the Japanese subsidiary of Fairfield Chemical Carriers, a US operator specialising in chemical tankers, has been working advanced initiatives to decarbonise its operations, including joint development of the ship with Fukuoka Shipbuilding. The ship, being built at Fukuoka Shipbuilding’s Nagasaki Yard and set to be delivered to FJL, will be the first LNG dual-fuelled chemical tanker in Japan.
In evaluating the ship, the following factors were taken into account:
- The LNG dual-fuelled engine enables a significant reduction of CO2, and the ship is expected to be compliant with the EEDI Phase 3 requirements achieved prior to the enforcement of the regulation;
- Use of LNG fuels enables a reduction of NOx, SOx, and particulate matter, and meets the NOx Tier III regulation and the SOx regulation;
- Environmental soundness at its recycling is addressed by planning to develop and maintain an Inventory of Hazardous Materials required by the Ship Recycling Convention.
The ship was given an ‘A’ rating as a ‘ship with high decarbonisation, environmentally friendly performance, and innovativeness’, recognising that adequate environment-related investments have been made.
Through the expansion of the programme, DBJ and ClassNK will support shipping and shipbuilding companies’ efforts to contribute to the transition toward decarbonisation and work together to accelerate the transition toward decarbonisation in the entire maritime industry.
