Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has teamed up with compatriots, Asahi Tanker, Exeno Yamamizu Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation, to provide new infrastructure services in the marine shipping industry that focus on electrically powered vessels.
Under the strategic partnership the parties established a new company, e5 Lab, that will work to develop and promote the greater use of these relatively clean modes of marine transport.
The first objective for e5 Lab would be to build the world’s first zero-emission tanker by mid-2021. The tanker will be a coastal vessel powered by large-capacity batteries and will operate in Tokyo Bay.
The new company will develop a platform to provide a lineup of services that takes advantage of electrically powered vessels and other cutting-edge technologies. The aim is to leverage this platform to encourage sustainable growth and development within the marine shipping industry.
The company will also develop other kinds of electrically powered vessels to address the following challenges:
Furthermore, e5 Lab will actively promote the electrification of both coastal and ocean-going vessels, and pool the technologies, human resources and operational know-how needed to achieve the 50% GHG reduction target of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as soon as possible.