Tadotsu Shipyard Co., part of the Imabari Shipbuilding Group, designed the next-generation vessel.

The delivery, according to the company, is a significant step toward meeting the goals set out in the K Line Environmental Vision 2050, which include a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to 2008.

The vessel is fitted with a dual-fuel main engine and auxiliary engines (generator and boiler) that can operate on LNG or marine gas oil. According to K Line, the main engine is a high-pressure style ME-GI engine, which reduces methane slip emissions.

Since the main engine uses EGR and the generator uses Selective Catalytic Reduction, the vessel follows NOx Tier III regulations when operating on either fuel (SCR).

The LNG-powered vessel is projected to reduce CO2 by about 45 percent, according to its Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which is higher than the Phase-3 goal of more than 30 percent reduction for new vessels with contract dates after 2025.

Due to Covid-19-related limitations, the naming ceremony for Century Highway Green was held remotely on March 3. Aichi, Kagawa, Okayama, and Tokyo were all linked through the internet.

With on-board Wi-Fi, web cameras, and a ClassNK-CMAXS duel fuel generator preventative diagnostic system, digital technology is an essential part of the vessel's features.

Wi-Fi has been mounted on the cargo deck, in the engine room, and in the LNG fuel-related equipment compartment, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of operations such as remote vessel monitoring.

Century Highway Green is the world's first newly-built vessel to be awarded the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) notation, showing that it is capable of performing remote surveys.

K Line was able to obtain an operating lease for the car carrier via a Climate Transition Loan with Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Ban due to the ship's environmentally friendly characteristics.

Maritime Business World