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NYK orders new fuel efficient LNG carrier

NYK orders new fuel efficient LNG carrier
Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has ordered a new eco-friendly LNG carrier from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) on the back of a newly secured time-charter deal with LNG Marine Transport, a subsidiary of Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco).

The 155,300 cu m Sayaendo is scheduled to be delivered in 2017 and will be assigned to transport LNG for Tepco in the Wheatstone LNG project.

The vessel will feature four Moss spherical tanks protected by a peapod-shaped continuous cover integrated with the ship’s hull. The innovative configuration enables a reduction in weight while maintaining the ship’s overall structural rigidity, and also reduces air resistance during navigation.

Fuel efficiency can also be improved by more than 20% compared to conventional ships, according to MHI.

The design of Sayaendo is made through MI LNG Co, a joint venture established between MHI and Imabari Shipbuilding Co in April 2013.

MHI said it will work closely with Imabari Shipbuilding to proactively seek more orders for LNG carriers going forward.

“MI LNG benefits from a combination of MHI’s capabilities in technology development and Imabari Shipbuilding’s cost competitiveness, and MHI and Imabari Shipbuilding’s shipyards combined have the capacity to construct more than eight ships per year,” MHI said.