Yanmar Delivers Its First Maritime Hydrogen Fuel Cell System
Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (Yanmar PT), a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd, has made its first delivery of its newly commercialized maritime hydrogen fuel cell system, introduced in August 2023. This system was supplied to the passenger ship Hanaria, operated by MOTENA-Sea, a company backed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and other investors.The Hanaria is Japan's first hybrid passenger ship to use both hydrogen and biodiesel. The vessel operates with an onboard electric propulsion system that powers the ship’s drive using generated electricity.
MOL and Shell Partner to Advance Maritime Decarbonization
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Shell Marine Products Singapore, a business division of Shell Eastern Trading Pte. Ltd (Shell), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly focus on the advancement of alternative maritime solutions and managing carbon emissions liabilities holistically, particularly in the development of green future marine fuels. As part of the agreement, the two companies will look to jointly conduct trials to explore the viability of bio- and synthetic fuel options as realistic decarbonization pathways.
MOL Bulk Carrier to be Equipped with Rotor Sails
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Brazilian headquartered mining company Vale are teaming up to retrofit an in-service bulk carrier with rotor sail auxiliary wind propulsion to help reduce fuel burn and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.The 200,000-ton class Capesize bulk carrier, currently employed under a mid-term contract for transportation of iron ore for Vale, will be fitted with a pair of 35- by 5-meter rotor sails produced by Finland's Norsepower.
MOL Sees Cow Manure as Path to Slash Vessel Emissions
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) said it is seeking to use cattle manure as part of its strategy to reduce vessel emissions.The company announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Air Water Inc. to study the use of liquefied biomethane (LBM) derived from cattle manure in vessels fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG).MOL, which has set a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, has been accelerating the deployment…
MOL Opts to Equip Second Bulk Carrier with Hard Sail
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) on Wednesday said it intends to equip a second bulk carrier with the Wind Challenger hard sail system, which harnesses the power of wind to propel the vessel, improving efficiency and reducing fuel consumption and emissions.MOL Group company MOL Drybulk Ltd. will operate the vessel, which will transport wood pellets for sustainable wood bioenergy producer Enviva Inc. and has signed a construction contract for the new ship with Oshima Shipbuilding Co.…
Hybrid-electric Biomass Fuel Carrier to get ABB Propulsion
One of its most significant initiatives in the Japanese shipping industry's push toward net zero is e5 Lab Inc., a consortium comprising Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation, with the purpose of developing renewably powered commercial ships.e5 Lab recently unveiled ROBOSHIP – a design for a biomass fuel carrier, powered by a fully standardized, electric propulsion system to attain zero emission operations at harbour.
MOL's Propeller Boss Cap Fins earns Guinness World Record Title
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that its Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF), sold by its group company MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. was certified as the “Best-selling Energy-Saving Ship Appendage Brand (Cumulative)”, by Guinness World Records, and received the official certificate on December 23, 2021.This award is based on the cumulative 3,748 PBCFs sold (the sales record with 3,516 vessels including twin-screw vessels equipped with PBCF) as of the end of December 2020.PBCF was co-developed by MOL, West Japan Fluid Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd., and Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd.
MOL Bulk Carrier to Trial Rotor Sails
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) said it has entered into an agreement with mining company Vale International SA to install and trial rotor sail wind propulsion units on one of its a 200,000-ton class in-service bulk carriers in an effort to study levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction while underway.The rotor sail produces propulsive force as the wind generates differential pressure around the slewing rotor while the vessel is underway. It…
Japanese Trio Connects on Project to Reduce Methane Slip by 70%
As the global shipping industry is under the microscope to reduce emissions, three Japanese leaders in the maritime space: Hitachi Zosen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.(MOL) and Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT), have targeted methane slip as an area of study via its "Development of Methane Slip Reduction Technology from LNG Fueled Vessels by Improving Catalysts and Engines", with Hitachi Zosen serving as the managing company in the "Development of Next Generation Vessels Project"…
MOL, Marubeni Developing Dual-fuel Methanol Carrier
Marubeni Corporation and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) are working together to develop a dual-fuel methanol/very-low sulfur fuel oil powered vessel to ship methanol from Russia.On September3, during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, the Japanese firms signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Development of the Far East and the Arctic Regions, State Development Corporation VEB.RF, VTB Bank and ESN Limited Liability Company (ESN Group) to commence a joint study to build…
Yanmar Dual Fuel Engines to Power Japan’s First LNG Ferries
Japanese engine manufacturer Yanmar said it received an order from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd (MOL) for dual fuel 8EY26LDF engines that will be used to power generators on board Japan’s first two liquefied natural gas (LNG) ferries. The ferries, provisionally named Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, are to be built at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.’s Shimonoseki Shipyard.Ferry Sunflower (a group company of MOL) will charter the ferries after delivery and launch them on its Osaka-Beppu route from the end of 2022 through the first half of 2023…
Japanese Partners Join Asahi's Electric Vessel Project
A group of Japanese partner companies have signed onto a project initiated by Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd. to build the world's first zero-emission, fully electric-propulsion bunker supply vessel.The so-called e5 Consortium, including Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., Tokyo Electric Power Company, and Mitsubishi Corporation, say they will work toward developing, realizing and commercializing zero-emission electric vessels.
Hydrogen Hybrid Car Carrier Studied
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and e5 Lab. concluded a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) to conduct a joint study of a hybrid pure car carrier equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system and large-capacity batteries (hydrogen hybrid PCC). The companies aim to develop a hydrogen hybrid PCC, which do not emit carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), or particulate matter (PM) while underway in coastal waters or in ports, in other words, achieving “zero emissions…
Mitsui O.S.K., Asahi to Develop Zero-emission Electric Vessels
Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd., and Mitsubishi Corporation today announced their agreement to create a strategic partnership to provide new infrastructure services in the marine shipping industry that focus on electrically powered vessels. Their newly established company, e5 Lab. Inc. (e5 Lab) will work to develop and promote the greater use of these relatively clean modes of marine transport.There are a number of challenges facing Japan's shipping industry (see below)…
Next-Generation LNG Carrier Christened
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. held a christening ceremony for a next-generation LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier under construction for TRANS PACIFIC SHIPPING 5 LTD., a joint venture of JERA Co., Inc. (JERA) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). The new ship, named Nohshu Maru, is the fourth vessel of the latest model "Sayaringo STaGE" type, featuring significant improvements in both LNG carrying capacity and fuel performance due to the adoption of a more efficient hull structure and an innovative hybrid propulsion system.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Christens "LNG JUNO"
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding held a christening ceremony for a next-generation LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier under construction for MOG-X LNG Shipholding S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL).The ship, named "LNG JUNO," is the third "Sayaringo STaGE" type vessel, and is Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's newest carrier to feature significant improvements in both LNG carrying capacity and fuel performance through adoption of a more efficient hull structure and an innovative hybrid propulsion system.
Yanmar Delivers Dual-Fuel Tugboat Propulsion Engines
Japan-based Yanmar has delivered two 6EY26DF dual-fuel commercial marine engines with the ability to use both heavy fuel oil (HFO) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuels for the LNG tugboat. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) will take delivery of the vessel once construction is completed in February 2019 with the tugboat expected to commence operation in April 2019.Yanmar has also received orders for the LNG fuel tanks, buffer tanks, and gas combustion devices that make up the LNG fuel feed systems for the engines.The MOL-owned vessel will be manufactured by Kanagawa Dockyard Co., Ltd.
MOL Adopts 'Common Rail Fuel Injection' System
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that its group company, Mitsui O.S.K. Kinkai, Ltd. will use a main engine equipped with the MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (MDT)-developed “common rail fuel injection system” on a newbuilding vessel. Shop test of the main engine was completed on January 29 and the vessel is slated for launching in 2018. After launched, Mitsui O.S.K. Kinkai, MDT and Makita Corporation(President: Yu Makita; headquarters: Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa Prefecture)will continue testing the system with support from MOL while the vessel is in service.