Japan’s maritime behemoth MOL anticipates the commencement of operations for its third LNG-powered ferry, Sunflower Kamuy, on the late-night Oarai-Tomakomai route in early 2025.
MOL disclosed on Thursday, April 11, that a naming and launching ceremony for the LNG-fueled vessel was held at Naikai Zosen’s Inoshima yard.
This marks the initiation of the first of two LNG-fueled ferries ordered by MOL at Naikai Zosen in February 2022. Scheduled for delivery in December 2024, the vessel will subsequently commence service on the route operated by MOL Sunflower.
Furthermore, MOL plans for the second of the two new vessels to join the same route within 2025.
With the inclusion of these vessels, MOL will bolster its fleet to encompass 4 LNG-fueled ferries on east-west routes in Japan by 2025, augmenting the Sunflower Kurenai and Sunflower Murasaki, which entered service on the Osaka-Beppu route in 2023.
MOL also revealed that a demonstration test will commence in the autumn of 2024 on the large coal carrier, Remei, operated by MOL.