NYK - New Jointly Owned Energy-Efficient LNG Carrier Named

On July 6, NYK Line and Tokyo LNG Tanker Co. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., held a naming ceremony for a jointly owned LNG carrier being built at the Sakaide Shipyard of the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation. At the ceremony, Tsuyoshi Okamoto, the president of Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., named the vessel Energy Horizon, and his wife cut the guy rope. Yasumi Kudo, the president of NYK, was also in attendance.

The word “horizon” was used in the vessel’s name to reflect the future potential of LNG as an energy resource.

Left to right: Mrs. and President Hasegawa
of Kawasaki Heavy Industries,
President and Mrs. Okamoto of Tokyo Gas,
Mrs. and President Kudo of NYK

The joint ownership of Energy Horizon is the second between Tokyo LNG Tanker, which owns 10 percent of the vessel, and NYK, which owns the remaining 90 percent. After construction is completed, the ship will be chartered for 20 years and be used for shipments of LNG to Japan from various countries, including Australia.

The vessel is a moss-type LNG carrier, the largest type, and has a tank capacity of 177,000 m³ (cargo capacity: 175,000 m³), which makes it possible to increase transport efficiency. In addition, this is a new energy-saving vessel, the first in the world to be equipped with a reheat turbine plant,¹ which reduces fuel consumption by up to 15 percent over conventional steam turbine vessels.

NYK will continue to make every effort to provide stable, environment-friendly LNG transportation.

l Vessel Details

Tank Capacity: 177,000 m³ (cargo capacity: 175,000 m³)

Length Overall: about 300.00 m

Breadth: about 52.00 m

Gross Tonnage: about 143,000 tons

Shipyard: Sakaide Shipyard, Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation

Commencement of Service: August 2011 (scheduled)

Source: NYK