Kyushu News

Japan’s first dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel KEYS Azalea has completed its first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in Western Japan.The vessel - owned and operated by KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation, a joint venture established by Kyushu Electric Power, NYK Line, Itochu Enex, and Saibu Gas - bunkered LNG for the car and truck carrier Daisy Leader 2 at the Port of HiroshimaKEYS Azalea was delivered to KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation earlier in April. It is equipped with a…

KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation - a joint venture established by Kyushu Electric Power, NYK Line, Itochu Enex, and Saibu Gas – has taken delivery of KEYS Azalea vessel, said to be Japan’s first LNG bunkering vessel equipped with a dual-fuel engine.The delivery ceremony for the vessel was held on March 28, 2024, at the Yamatomachi Shipyard of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture.KEYS Azalea will provide domestic coastal transport of LNG to consumers in the Kyushu and Setouchi areas and LNG bunkering for oceangoing vessels calling ports in the region.Mitsubishi Launches…

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. (Kyuden) said Tuesday that a Panamax coal carrier that uses low-environmental-impact LNG as its main fuel was delivered and started operation on November 14.In a naming and delivery ceremony held at the Imari Shipyard and Works of Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the new vessel was named Reimei.The Reimei, a large LNG-fueled coal carrier, is operated by MOL to transport coal from overseas to Kyuden's coal-fired thermal power plants.Credit: MOLCompared to conventional marine fuel…

On August 25, NYK was commissioned by a consortium comprising ENEOS Corporation, Electric Power Development (J-POWER), and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration to conduct a study on the marine transportation of liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2).The study is part of a fiscal 2023 feasibility study on advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Japan.NYK will study the economics and feasibility of the technology for transporting by ship CO2 emitted in western Japan from ENEOS…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company based in Yokohama, today held a christening and launch ceremony for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, the first to operate in western Japan, built under contract for KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co., Ltd. The ceremony was conducted at the Enoura Plant at MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The new vessel, christened KEYS Azalea, is scheduled for handover…

Japan-based company PowerX has unveiled the detailed design of the first-ever ‘Battery Tanker’ at an exhibition in Imabari City, Japan. The inaugural ship “X” aims for completion by 2025, with domestic and international field testing planned to start in 2026. This electric propulsion vessel will be 140 meters long and will be equipped with 96 containerized marine batteries, providing a total capacity of 241MWh. "The onboard battery system is based on our proprietary module design, featuring safe and reliable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells that ensure a lifespan over 6,000 cycles.

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled bulk carrier being built by Oshima Shipbuilding for NYK has been certified by Japan's Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as the first application of the "Specific Ship Introduction Plan" certification system, which targets ships with superior environmental performance.Under the Maritime Industry Strengthening Law enacted in May 2021, shipping companies and shipbuilders certified by the Business Infrastructure Strengthening…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. signed a contract with KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co., Ltd. for construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel, the first to operate in western Japan. The vessel will be built at the Enoura Plant at MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with completion and handover scheduled for March 2024.KEYS Bunkering West Japan is a joint venture company established in February 2022 to supply LNG fuel for ships in the Kyushu and Setouchi Regions…

The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd. have informed they've completed a demonstration test of what the companies say is the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large car ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushu City, on January 17.The demonstration was part of MEGURI 2040, a project promoting the development of fully autonomous vessels supported by The Nippon Foundation. "This test demonstrated the world’s first fully autonomous navigation system…

Classification society ClassNK said it has opened a Kyushu regional office in Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan on April 1, 2021.Hakata is the transportation hub of Kyusyu, the island located in the southwest part of the Japanese archipelago. On top of five existing survey stations in Kyusyu, ClassNK adds Kyusyu Regional Office overseeing its operation in the region in order to expand the service and further improve customer convenience there, the class society said.

Shipbuilder Austal said its Austal Australia arm has delivered a new high-speed trimaran ferry to JR Kyushu Jet Ferry at a ceremony held at the company’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.The 83-meter Queen Beetle is the first of its kind to be delivered to Japan and has been custom-designed to provide an enhanced passenger ferry service between Fukuoka, Japan and Busan, South Korea, Austal said.Speaking at the delivery ceremony, Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton…

Australia's Transborders Energy, a company working to develop an FLNG solution for marginal field development, has signed a partnership agreement with the floating production solutions giant SBM Offshore.Perth-based Transborders said Sunday that the two companies would co-pursue the deployment of Transborders’ FLNG Solution on a range of stranded offshore gas resource opportunities.Transborders has said that its FLNG Solution provides a pre-engineered one point five (1.5) million…

Austal has revealed its latest development in high-speed trimaran technology with an 83 meter trimaran ferry.The ferry is under construction for JR Kyushu Jet Ferry of Japan, at the company’s Henderson South shipyard in Western Australia.Austal Hull 396, to be known as Queen Beetle, was designed and constructed by Austal Australia and is due for launch in mid-March 2020. The vessel will be handed over to JR Kyushu Jet Ferry in June 2020 and will commence services between Busan…

Japanese shipping companies Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have signed long-term transport agreements with compatriot energy company Kyushu Electric Power (Kyuden) for LNG-fueled large coal carriers (LCC).According to a joint press release, the vessels are expected to become the world’s first LNG-fueled large coal carriers, under the operation of NYK and MOL, to import coal to Kyuden’s coal-fired power plants.The use of LNG fuel is expected to virtually eliminate sulfur oxides (SOx) emission and reduce approximately 80% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission, as well as 30% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission…

Austal Australia has rolled out the hull (No. 394) and attached the superstructure for the first of two 118 meter trimarans under construction for Fred. Olsen Express of the Canary Islands.Bajamar Express was rolled out onto the hardstand at Austal Australia’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia on December 14, in preparation for final fit out before launch in February 2020.Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton highlighted the vessel’s significance as one of nine trimarans currently under construction by Austal…

Perth-based company Transborders Energy has entered a Joint Study Agreement (JSA) to work with Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to together continue the development of its Floating LNG (FLNG) Solution and to pursue its deployment on a range of stranded offshore gas resource opportunities.Transborders’ FLNG Solution provides a pre-determined 1.3 MTPA FLNG development concept with a package of streamlined commercial & regulatory approval framework (including LNG buyers) to gas resource owners. Transborders’ Chairman Jack Sato says, “We are very pleased to welcome MOL as a strategic partner to our FLNG Solution. In addition to Kyushu Electric Power Company in Japan…

French floating foundations developer Ideol and Japanese renewable specialist Shizen Energy have signed an agreement to jointly develop a commercial-scale floating offshore wind project (OWF) off the coasts of Kyushu in Japan.The agreement was signed in Tokyo today by Paul de la Guérivière, CEO of Ideol, and Masaya Hasegawa, Representative Director of Shizen Energy, during the state visit of Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Economy, attended the signing ceremony.The wind farm will use Ideol's damping pool technology by, and Shizen will offer its local project development experience.While the companies are currently examining the implementation of floating offshore wind power projects in Kyushu…

Australia's Transborders Energy  announce it has entered into a Joint Study Agreement with Japanese utility  Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. and its affiliate Kyushu Electric Australia Pty Ltd (Kyushu). The Joint Study Parties will work together to develop a Floating LNG (FLNG) Solution and pursue the deployment on a range of stranded offshore gas resource opportunities.Transborders’ FLNG Solution is a pre-determined FLNG and wells tie-back development concept with a package of streamlined commercial and regulatory approval frameworks.Transborders’ Chairman Jack Sato says, “Transborders’ goal is to unlock stranded gas resources, develop a new LNG supply source, and offer alternative LNG solutions.

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…

Germany-headquartered energy company E.ON and Japanese renewable energy company Kyuden Mirai Energy signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop offshore wind projects in Japan.A press release from the European holding company based in Essen said that the cooperation is focused on fixed bottom projects and starts with a study to jointly select a project for development, construction and operations in the Kyushu area, the southernmost island of Japan. The companies may consider expanding the partnership to other regions in Japan.The cooperation follows E.ON’s decision to enter the Japanese wind market. E.ON intends to transfer its experience and technical know-how from its 1.8 gigawatt (GW) installed offshore wind capacity from Europe to Japan.

As the Japan Coast Guard celebrates its 70th anniversary, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News offers insights on the current status and future direction of the JCG courtesy of an interview with Shuichi Iwanami, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard.*Note: At the time this interview was conducted, Shuichi Iwanami was still Vice Commandant for Operations.Could you please tell us the history and future development of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG)?The JCG, in 2018 celebrates the 70th anniversary of its foundation. When it was founded, the Japanese waters were in an eclipse period.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that the newly built large-scale ferry Sunflower Kirishima operated by its group company Ferry Sunflower was launched on September 15, and with many passengers aboard, departed the Nanko Sunflower Terminal in Osaka Prefecture for the Port of Shibushi, Kagoshima Prefecture.The new Sunflower Kirishima has room for 20% more trucks compared to the old Sunflower Kirishima.With its sister ferry, the Sunflower Satsuma, which was launched on May 15, they will enhance their role in promoting a strong modal shift from long-distance transport by trucks to ocean transport by ferries driven by the need to reduce…

NYK Line has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kyushu Electric Power, Saibu Gas, and The Chugoku Electric Power for joint discussions on the commercialization of a new business to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel to ships in the Setouchi and Kyushu areas of western Japan.This is the second LNG bunkering project NYK Line is engaged in after investing in an LNG bunkering vessel with "K" Line, Chubu Electric, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation."The demand for LNG as a marine fuel, a practical alternative to heavy fuel oil because of its relatively low emission of air polluting substances and greenhouse gases, is expected to increase after a global 0.5 percent sulphur cap is introduced in 2020.