Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has taken delivery of an 88,000m3 LPG dual-fuel very large gas carrier (VLGC) ‘Energia Grandeur’, ordered by its group company MOL Energia from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries of South Korea.
The Energia Grandeur will sail under a time charter contract for CSSA Chartering and Shipping Services (CSSA), a subsidiary of TotalEnergies.
MOL says it is moving ahead with the development of a fleet powered primarily by clean, low impact alternative fuels. As part of this environmentally friendly fleet, the vessels feature a new hull design that blends the corporate colour blue, symbolising the ocean, with turquoise, representing the group’s environmental initiatives, a design aiming to express the MOL Group Mission ‘From the blue oceans, we sustain people’s lives and ensure a prosperous future’.
The 230m long Energia Grandeur is a dual fuel vessel that can run on both LPG and heavy oil. Operating on LPG reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 20%, and SOx, PM, and other pollutants by about 90%, compared with heavy oil. The vessel is designed not only to transport LPG but to carry ammonia. Ammonia, which emits no CO2 during combustion, is expected to see significant growth in demand as a next generation clean energy source. In addition, the new vessel is equipped with a shaft generator to enhance operational efficiency, adopting environmentally conscious specifications that enable further GHG reductions compared with conventional LPG dual fuel VLGCs. Furthermore, a transition linked loan was used for financing the Energia Grandeur.
TotalEnergies has built a strong relationship with the MOL Group across multiple fields, including marine fuel trading and long-term charter agreements for LNG carriers and LNG bunkering vessels. This charter agreement will further strengthen the partnership.
Image: The newbuild LPG-powered LPG/ammonia carrier ‘Energia Grandeur’ (source: MOL Group)
