August 25, 2022. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd has announced its intent to build four Capesize bulkers and two very large crude carrier (VLCC) tankers, which will use environment-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG) as their main fuel, and signed deals for construction with shipbuilding companies.
The company signed a deal for construction of four 210,000 DWT-class Capesize bulkers with CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. This is MOL’s first time to order newbuilding vessel’s from this shipyard. The new ships are slated for delivery in succession from 2025 through 2026.
MOL also concluded a contract for construction of two 309,000 DWT-class VLCCs with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. This new ordered VLCC will be built by Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd jointly operated by KHI and China COSCO Shipping Corporation Ltd. This is the first LNG-fueled VLCC ordered from a Japanese tanker operator. The newbuilding VLCCs are scheduled for delivery from 2025 through 2026.
The MOL Group has moved forward with decarbonization/low carbonization in-line with MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1, established in June 2021, with the aim of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. It plans to expand its fleet of LNG-fueled vessels to approximately 90 by 2030, in-line with the “adoption of clean alternative energy” strategy toward the goal of net zero GHG emissions.
