Maritime LNG industry collective Sea-LNG has reported that in advance of its member Osaka Gas’s launch of ship-to-ship (StS) LNG bunkering operations in April 2026, a naming ceremony has been held at Shitanoe Shipbuilding in Japan for an LNG bunkering vessel currently under construction.
Named Seto Azure, the vessel will be operated by Osaka Bay LNG Shipping, in which Osaka Gas International Transport, a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas, has invested. With Osaka Gas selling and providing LNG, Seto Azure will supply gas to LNG-fuelled ships, including Capesize bulkers operated by MOL, ‘K’ Line and NYK. The introduction of StS bunkering complements Osaka Gas’s existing bunkering operations, which currently use truck-to-ship and port-to-ship methods.
An increasing number of LNG-fuelled vessels are said to have come into operation in recent years, driven by the global trend of marine decarbonisation and the target set by IMO to reduce GHG emissions. LNG-fuelled vessels can reduce CO2 emissions compared to the traditional use of HFO; however, the shortage of LNG fuel facilities across Japan poses a challenge to this effort.
Seto Azure is 86.29m in length, 17.6m in breadth and about 4350gt, and is equipped with an IMO Type C independent tank of about 3,610m3.
With its new bunkering service that covers all three major bunkering methods, Osaka Gas intends to contribute further to a stable and flexible LNG fuel supply.
Masataka Fujiwara, President and Representative Director, Osaka Gas, said: “We are excited to commence our ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operations next month. Amid the global momentum towards decarbonisation and low-carbon initiatives, Osaka Gas is dedicated to providing a stable supply of LNG to meet the growing demand from LNG-fuelled vessels.”
Image: ‘Seto Azure’ (source: Sea-LNG)
