NYK Participates in First LNG Bunkering Operation

Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen (NYK) together with Kyushu Electric Power Co. Inc., Saibu Gas Co. Ltd., and The Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc., successfully conducted a truck-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering demonstration at the port of Kitakyushu.

According to press release, this operation is the first LNG bunkering in the Setouchi and Kyushu areas of western Japan and advances the four companies’ discussions on the commercialization of a new business in the area.

The LNG fuel was loaded onto a tank truck at the Hibiki LNG terminal in Kitakyushu city, trucked to a pier in the Asano district, and then supplied to the LNG-fueled tugboat Sakigake using the truck-to-ship method.

Truck-to-ship method is a method of bunkering where LNG is supplied to a ship at pier through a hose that stretches from a tank truck parked at the quay.

Delivered in August 2015, Sakigake is owned by NYK and operated by Wing Maritime Service Corporation, an NYK Group company. For this demonstration, Sakigake sailed to Kitakyushu from the port of Kawasaki in Yokohama prefecture.

Since August 2018, the four companies have been in joint discussions on the commercialization of LNG bunkering, and this demonstration validates the feasibility of LNG bunkering in the area.

Going forward, the four companies will utilize the experience gained from this operation to accelerate commercialization.