LNG Bunkering Vessel for Kyushu and Setouchi Area named and launched

July 13, 2023

From the left : 1st: Takashi Mitsuyoshi, Executive Officer Deputy Director Planning & Balance Optimization Division, Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. & President, KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation 2nd: Yukinori Michinaga, President, Saibu Gas Co., Ltd. 3rd: Kenji Okada, Representative Director Chairman, ITOCHU ENEX CO.,LTD. 4th: Hitoshi Nagasawa, Chairman & Director, NYK Line 5th: Masahiro Inada, Director-General, Ports and Harbours Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 6th: Kazuhiro Ikebe, Persident ＆Chief Executive Officer, Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. 8th: Kenichi Matsumura, Deputy Commander, 7th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters 9th: Toru Kitamura, President & Chief Executive Officer, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd

KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation a joint venture established by Kyushu Electric Power NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX , and Saibu Gas, held a ceremony to name and launch an LNG bunkering vessel. The vessel is under construction at Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works’ Enoura Plant owned by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,

KEYS welcomed guests from the parties as well as Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Japan Coast Guard, and the cities of Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki, among others. The vessel was named “KEYS Azalea” after the azalea, the official flower of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, where KEYS is based.

After delivery in March 2024, the vessel will participate in the LNG coastal transportation business, in addition to LNG bunkering for oceangoing vessels calling at ports in the Kyushu-Setouchi area. This will be Japan’s first LNG bunkering project to supply LNG to vessels over the vast Kyushu and Setouchi area.

Area for planned LNG bunkering by KEYS Azalea

KEYS Azalea will be Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel to be equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can operate on both LNG and fuel oil. The use of LNG fuel offers excellent environmental performance compared with traditional marine fuels. It is expected to be a bridge solution for decarbonization, virtually eliminating sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions and reducing approximately 80% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, as well as 30% of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.