Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) is moving towards its aim of having 90 vessels afloat fuelled by LNG or methanol by 2030, following delivery of the LNG-fuelled car carrier ‘Cerulean Ace’ from the Onishi Shipyard of Shin Kurushima Dockyard.
The vessel will transport cars, including those produced by Mazda Motor Corporation.
MOL decided to operate 14 new LNG-fuelled car carriers and the Cerulean Ace is the first of 11 to be built in Japan under the ‘Blue’ series. The use of LNG fuel reduces CO2 emissions by about 25-30%, SOx emissions by about 98%, and NOx emissions by about 85% compared to comparable vessels using conventional fuel oil.
Since its first car carrier was delivered in Japan in 1965, MOL has been expanding its services with the aim of further developing its car carrier business in the global market.
Cerulean Ace is 199.95m long and has capacity for 7050 vehicles.
Image: PCTC ‘Cerulean Ace/ (source: MOL)
