A car carrier with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles has been delivered to Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K LINE) on April 10. The vessel is mainly fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has been constructed at the Marugame Headquarters of Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Imabari Shipbuilding). 

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha takes delivery of 7,000-vehicle LNG-fueled car carrier TRITON HIGHWAY

A naming ceremony was held, and the vessel was named TRITON HIGHWAY by Mr. Kazunari Kumakura, Chief Officer of the Purchasing Group, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota). 

LNG fuel is expected to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas (GHG), by 25% to 30% and emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx), which cause air pollution, by almost 100%. This is also a next-generation environment-friendly vessel that is expected to cut emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 80% to 90% by using EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) in addition to LNG fuel. It is equipped with the dual-fuel electronic control engine “6S60ME-C10.5-GI-EGRBP” by MAN Energy Solutions. 

Caption: Naming and Delivery Ceremony

Also, with regard to fire safety measures that “K” LINE has been working on for some time, this is the first of its new car carriers to acquire the ClassNK notations (Fire Fighting) (Electric Vehicle). Including this Vessel, five car carriers operated by “K” LINE have acquired notations. 

In “K” LINE Environmental Vision 2050 -Blue Seas for the Future-*¹, it has set the 2030 interim target of improving CO2 emissions efficiency by 50% compared with 2008, surpassing the IMO target of a 40% improvement. Furthermore, it sets its new target for 2050 as “The Challenge of Achieving Net-Zero GHG Emissions.” As an action plan, it will continue to work on the introduction of new fuels which have a low environmental impact and take on the challenge of achieving the targets it has established. 

Vessel Particulars:

  • Main Measure:  LOA 199.90 meters x Beam 38.00 meters x Depth 38.76 meters x Draft 9.30 meters
  • Gross Ton:  77,509
  • Main Engine:  6S60ME-C10.5-GI-EGRBP
  • Speed:  18.25 KTS
  • Class:  ClassNK
  • Flag:  Japan
  • Builder:  Marugame Headquarters, Imabari Shipbuilding