An LNG-fuelled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) recently entered the port of Hiroshima for the first time.

The Jasmine Leader is NYK’s third LNG-fuelled PCTC and first of four to be delivered from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co.

Before entering port, the vessel received LNG fuel from Kaguya, an LNG-bunkering ship operated by Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation, a joint venture owned by NYK and other companies.

The vessel will transport finished vehicles produced by Mazda Motor Corporation and seeks to fulfil customers’ demands for a lower environmental burden in the logistics sector.

NYK has set a long-term target of net-zero emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) by 2050 for the NYK Group’s oceangoing businesses, and aims at launching zero-emission ships that run on low-environmental-load marine fuels, such as ammonia or hydrogen, in future.

The shipping line is positioning LNG, a low-carbon marine fuel, as a bridge-solution until future zero-emission ships are realised. The company plans to take delivery of a total of 20 new LNG-fuelled PCTCs by 2028 under the Sail GREEN brand.

LNG fuel reduces emissions by about 19% compared with traditional marine fuels such as diesel and heavy fuel oil.

“The uptake of LNG has been very strong in recent years, especially in newbuildings,” notes DNV. “This has been driven by a combination of the environmental benefits and attractive fuel prices, and the trend is accelerating. Switching to LNG as a fuel can provide significant advantages, by meeting regulatory requirements, offering enhanced competitiveness, as well as improving overall air quality, and reducing GHG emissions.”

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set an ambition to reduce international shipping carbon emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, off a 2008 baseline.