Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced the delivery and entry into service of an LNG dual-fuel coal carrier constructed as a dedicated vessel for Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. The vessel is Japan’s first coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system. A naming and delivery ceremony was held at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to mark the vessel’s completion, during which the vessel was named “MAIZURU KAZENOMAI” ^(Note).

This vessel is engaged in transporting coal to Kansai Electric Power’s Maizuru Power Plant and plays an important role in supporting a stable supply of electricity. To reduce its environmental impact, it features a dual-fuel main engine capable of using LNG as its primary fuel, as well as the Wind Challenger, a wind-assisted propulsion system jointly developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding.

Compared with conventional heavy fuel oil-fired vessels, the vessel is expected to reduce GHG and NOx emissions and significantly reduce SOx emissions through the use of LNG fuel. Furthermore, the combined effect of the LNG dual-fuel main engine and the Wind Challenger wind-assisted propulsion system is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to approximately 30%.

Under the MOL Group Environmental Vision – BLUE ACTION 2035 Phase 2, which sets out the MOL Group’s medium- to long-term environmental targets, MOL has established the target of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. To help achieve this target, the group has identified improvement of fuel efficiency as one of its key actions and plans to deploy 25 Wind Challenger-equipped vessels by 2030 and 80 vessels by 2035.

[Vessel Overview]

(Note) The name “MAIZURU KAZENOMAI” combines “Maizuru,” the location of the Maizuru Power Plant, with “KAZENOMAI,” which reflects the vessel’s ability to sail utilizing wind power. The name embodies the hope that the vessel will continue to sail safely and reliably.