On April 10, 2024, KEYS Azalea, Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel equipped with dual-fuel engines, completed its first LNG bunkering.
The LNG bunkering vessel is owned and operated by KEYS Bunkering West Japan, a joint venture established by Kyushu Electric Power, NYK Line, Itochu Enex, and Saibu Gas.
The shipbuilding order for the 82.4-meter-long KEYS Azalea was placed in March 2022 and the vessel was launched in July 2023. KEYS Azalea is equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can operate on both LNG and fuel oil.
As explained, the ship bunkered LNG for the pure car and truck carrier Daisy Leader at the port of Hiroshima. The LNG fuel supplied to Daisy Leader was shipped from the Tobata LNG terminal of Kitakyushu LNG.
The event also marks the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in western Japan.
Daisy Leader is operated by NYK, and it was delivered to the company on March 28, 2024.
According to NYK, 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 and 30% of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions.
KEYS will continue to provide LNG bunkering in the western Japan region. The shipowner expects that this will contribute to forming a carbon-neutral society and developing the LNG bunkering business in Japan.