Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has unveiled a plan to build the country's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled tugboat. 

The tugboat will be built in accordance with the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flash Point Fuels (IGF) code and will be examined by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prior to deployment.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The vessel is set to be built at Kanagawa Dockyard in Japan, and will be owned by MOL upon completion.

Yanmar will provide LNG-fuelled engines for the tugboat, while Osaka Gas have been contracted to supply LNG fuel.

Nihon Tug-Boat will operate the tugboat, which is set for deployment in Osaka Bay, Japan by April 2019.

The vessel will feature high-performance dual fuel engines in order to facilitate high-speed operation and improved environmental performance.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
"MOL has stated the tugboat project aims to promote the technological development of LNG-fuelled vessels and their safe use."

MOL has stated the tugboat project aims to promote the technological development of LNG-fuelled vessels and their safe use.

The company also noted that the proposed vessel will be built in support of its research and development (R&D) programme known as ‘Ishinnext – MOL smart ship project’.

The knowledge and expertise that is expected to be gained through the tugboat's development and operation will be passed on to various other LNG-fuelled ship projects, including MOL’s own ISHIN-II environment-friendly ferry concept.

The ISHIN-II vessel will be able to transport both cargo and passengers once fully realised.

Image: MOL's LNG-fuelled tugboat design concept. Photo: courtesy of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.