Kawasaki will launch this year's vessel in late September. Namely, this is Japan's first liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel to service.

The vessel has a capacity to store the chilled fuel 3,500 cubic meters, the joint venture behind the project said in a joint statement.

After arrival, the vessel will be located at JERA's thermal power station in Kawagoe and launch a ship-to-ship LNG bunkering company for vessels fuelled with LNG.

In 2018 the LNG bunkering vessel was ordered by Central LNG Shipping Japan Company (CLS). CLS partnered with the Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Company (CLMF) to place the order. The latter will encourage the business of LNG bunkering in Japan's (central) Chubu Area.

CLS is a joint venture between Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), JERA, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and Toyota Tsusho Corporation. 

JERA supplies liquefied natural gas. The Central LNG Marine Fuel Corporation is providing consumers with the gasoline, the announcement states.

Maritime Business World