VESSEL REVIEW | KEYS Azalea – Bunkering vessel to serve LNG-fuelled ships in western Japan

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, via its Mitsubishi Shipbuilding division, has handed over a new LNG bunkering vessel to joint venture company KEYS Bunkering West Japan Corporation.

KEYS Azalea will be operated by KEYS, which was jointly established by Kyushu Electric Power, NYK Line, ITOCHU ENEX, and Saibu Gas. The name honours the azalea, the official flower of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, where KEYS is based.

First to serve a crucial domestic region

The vessel will provide domestic coastal transport of LNG to consumers in the Kyushu and Setouchi areas and LNG bunkering for oceangoing vessels calling at ports in the region, primarily those in the Seto Inland Sea.

The vessel is also the first of its kind to supply LNG to vessels in these two areas, which will boast Japan's third LNG bunkering base following those at Ise Bay and Tokyo Bay.

KEYS Azalea is Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can use both LNG and diesel as fuel for the main power generation system, though an electric propulsion mode is also available. When operating in gas mode, it will be capable of generating considerably reduced emissions of CO2, NOx, SOx, and particulate matter.

The vessel has an LOA of 82.4 metres (270 feet), a beam of 18.2 metres (59.7 feet), a draught of 4.8 metres (15.7 feet), a gross tonnage of 4,744, and a total LNG cargo capacity of 3,500 cubic metres (123,601 cubic feet). The main dual-fuel generators consist of three Daihatsu 6DE23DF units while bow and stern thrusters are also fitted for improved manoeuvrability.

Efficient bunkering equipment layout

The LNG cargo tank is installed in the cargo hold and is equipped with two cargo pumps, a spray pump and a fuel gas pump. The cargo machinery room is located aft of the cargo hold and equipped with two gas compressors, an LNG vaporiser, a gas heater and other equipment.

A total of four sets of cargo manifold connections for ship-to-ship bunkering are arranged on both sides in the fore and midship areas, and midship manifolds will be used for loading/unloading at LNG terminals. This configuration enables selection of the most suitable ship-to-ship arrangement conforming with various LNG fuel vessels. Each manifold is equipped with two hose handling cranes.

The LNG transfer system installed on the vessel contributes flexible and safe bunkering to various LNG fuel vessels. This system contains LNG flexible hoses, emergency release couplings capable of quick-detaching hoses without LNG leakage in an emergency, and quick connecting/disconnecting couplers.

KEYS Azalea has already begun providing bunkering services at the Port of Hiroshima and other areas within Western Japan. The first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering operation ever to be completed in Western Japan was performed in Hiroshima by KEYS Azalea on the locally-registered car carrier Daisy Leader, with the LNG supplied from the Tobata terminal of Kyushu Electric Power subsidiary Kitakyushu LNG.