The Japanese shipping company NYK is expanding its fleet with a first crude oil tanker that will be equipped to run on methanol.
The dual-fuel VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) is scheduled for delivery in 2028.
The ship is being built at Nippon Shipyard, a joint venture between Imabari Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United. It is based on a design developed by NYK together with the shipping companies Idemitsu Tanker and Iino Lines as well as Nippon Shipyard.
Dual-fuel propulsion for NYK tankers
The dimensions of the newbuild are given as 339.5 m long, 60 m wide and a GT of 309,400. The tanker will have a dual-fuel propulsion system and will therefore be able to run not only on conventional fuel but also on methanol. It will also be equipped with a shaft generator, which will generate electricity by rotating the main propeller shaft and thus significantly reduce ship-related carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions.
“With its outstanding energy efficiency and progress in decarbonization, the ship will play a leading role in the future decarbonization of crude oil transport,” NYK announced. The shipping company has committed to climate neutrality by 2050.
Last October, Iino Lines was the first Japanese shipping company to order a supertanker that can run on methanol. The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2027 and will be chartered by Idemitsu Tanker. The NYK newbuilding, scheduled for delivery in 2028, will also be chartered by Idemitsu.
