Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced the delivery and entry into service of an LNG dual-fuel coal carrier constructed as a dedicated vessel for Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
The vessel is Japan’s first coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system. A naming and delivery ceremony was held at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to mark the vessel’s completion, during which the vessel was named “MAIZURU KAZENOMAI”.
The vessel MAIZURU KAZENOMAI is operated by MOL. It has a overall length of 234.98 m and a beam of 38.00 m. With a Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) of 95,311 tons, it was built in 2026 at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and flies the flag of the Republic of Liberia.
This vessel is engaged in transporting coal to Kansai Electric Power’s Maizuru Power Plant and plays an important role in supporting a stable supply of electricity. To reduce its environmental impact, it features a dual-fuel main engine capable of using LNG as its primary fuel, as well as the Wind Challenger, a wind-assisted propulsion system jointly developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding.
Compared with conventional heavy fuel oil-fired vessels, the vessel is expected to reduce GHG and NOx emissions and significantly reduce SOx emissions through the use of LNG fuel. Furthermore, the combined effect of the LNG dual-fuel main engine and the Wind Challenger wind-assisted propulsion system is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to approximately 30%.