MOL participated in the LNG bunkering trial at the Port of Kobe, organized by the Kobe City Port and Harbor Authority, and conducted bunkering on the LNG-fueled tugboat Ishin. This marks the first LNG bunkering in the Port of Kobe.
The successful trial confirmed that LNG fuel can be effectively supplied safely at the Port. Ishin is a tugboat owned by MOL and operated by Nihon-Tug-Boat Co., Ltd.
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LNG fuel for the trial was hauled by a tanker truck from the Himeji LNG Plant (Himeji-shi, Hyogo Prefecture) of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., and, via a truck-to-ship system, was used to supply Ishin, berthed at Kobe Port’s Shinko Pier No.4.
MOL Marine Co. has also provided maritime consulting in the trial.
Effective from 1st January 2020, vessel exhaust emission regulations will be much tighter worldwide. Responding to the new standards, more and more LNG-fueled ships are coming into service, thus making the development of LNG bunkering ports in Japan an urgent task.
The Ishin’s excellent environmental performance – including an estimated 25% reduction in CO2 emissions in comparison to tugs that run on A fuel oil – earned the top rating of four stars from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s energy-saving rating program for Japan’s coastal ships
MOL stated.
