Japan Welcomes First LNG Bunkering Vessel Equipped With Dual-Fuel Engines

The “KEYS Azalea,” Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel, was delivered on March 28 at the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s Yamatomachi Shipyard in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Officials from KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation (KEYS) and Japan’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Land, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) attended the historic event and prayed for the vessel’s safe passage.

The vessel will be operated by KEYS, a collaboration between Kyushu Electric Power, NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX, and Saibu Gas. It is the first of its kind in the Kyushu and Setouchi regions.

The KEYS Azalea sets off on a groundbreaking mission. It will play a significant role in the domestic coastal transit of LNG and offer LNG bunkering services for nearby oceangoing vessels.

The vessel’s construction, funded by a subsidy from MLIT’s FY2021 LNG Bunkering Base Formation Project, is a significant step toward sustainable marine operations.

With a dual-fuel engine enabling it to run its central power generation system on heavy oil and LNG, the KEYS Azalea is Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel.

Fast forward to March 28, when the vessel was delivered at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works’ Enoura Plant, putting a massive project that began in March 2022 to conclusion.

The KEYS Azalea, measuring 82.4 meters long, was launched in July 2023, confirming its status as a leader in Japan’s maritime environment.

The KEYS Azalea marks a new era in environmentally aware maritime practices, beginning with LNG coastal transportation and bunkering services for oceangoing vessels in the Kyushu-Setouchi area.

This is Japan’s first attempt to supply LNG fuel to ships across a vast area ranging from Kyushu to Setouchi.

Reference: NYK

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