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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. is preparing to deliver the world’s first LNG carrier equipped with wind-assisted propulsion to Chevron Corp. under a long-term charter in late September
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A naming ceremony for the vessel was held September 10 with Chevron supply & trading chief Molly Laegeler as godmother giving it the name FUJIN SAILOR
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The vessel is fitted with two Wind Challenger hard-sail units, also making it the first vessel of any type equipped with two such units
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FUJIN SAILOR is the fourth of 11 MOL Group vessels that have been or will be equipped with Wind Challenger
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MOL plans to deploy Wind Challenger on 25 vessels by 2030 and 80 by 2035 as part of its drive toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) is preparing to deliver the world’s first LNG carrier equipped with wind-assisted propulsion to Chevron Corp. under a long-term charter at the end of September following a naming ceremony for the vessel on September 10.
MOL held the naming ceremony for the vessel, FUJIN SAILOR, at Hanwha Ocean Co. Ltd.’s Geoje Shipyard in South Korea.
The 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier is equipped with two units of MOL’s Wind Challenger hard-sail wind-assisted propulsion system. It is the first LNG carrier to use the technology and the first vessel of any type equipped with two Wind Challenger units.
The system is expected to reduce fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional propulsion alone.
Molly Laegeler, president of Chevron’s Supply & Trading business, served as the vessel’s godmother and formally named the ship.
“Reliable energy supply depends on trusted partnerships and continuous innovation. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with our partners at MOL and Hanwha Ocean. FUJIN SAILOR represents the combined efforts of many and demonstrates how practical innovation can help reduce the carbon intensity of LNG transportation while supporting the safe and reliable delivery of energy around the world,” she said.
MOL said FUJIN SAILOR represents a milestone in applying wind-assisted propulsion technology to LNG transportation and reflects the collaboration among MOL, Chevron and Hanwha Ocean to bring the technology into commercial operation.
FUJIN SAILOR is the fourth of 11 MOL Group vessels that have been or will be equipped with Wind Challenger. Three other vessels have already been delivered, including the coal carrier Shofu Maru, bulk carrier GREEN WINDS and coal carrier Kurotakisan Maru III.
The vessel measures 294.9 meters in length and 46.4 meters in breadth. It uses a membrane-type LNG tank system and a low-pressure LNG dual-fuel main engine. It is also fitted with an air lubrication system and a shaft generator as additional environmental mitigation technologies.
Makoto Inomoto, managing executive officer responsible for MOL’s LNG and Ethane Business, said, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Hanwha Ocean for its strong technical support in realizing the groundbreaking [innovation] of installing the Wind Challenger on the vessel, as well as to Chevron for their understanding and cooperation in making this project possible.”
FUJIN SAILOR helps ensure a stable energy supply and reduces LNG shipping’s environmental impact, said Inomoto.
“Through the installation of wind-assisted propulsion technology, this vessel represents a new milestone in innovation of LNG carriers and is expected to contribute to the greater integration of new technologies to support GHG management in LNG transportation,” he added.
MOL has set a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 under its “MOL Group Environmental Vision – BLUE ACTION 2035 Phase 2.”
The company has identified the introduction of additional energy-saving technologies as one of its key measures and plans to deploy Wind Challenger on 25 vessels by 2030 and 80 by 2035.
The company said it will continue developing technologies to reduce the environmental impact of LNG ocean transportation while meeting global energy demand.
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