Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) have entered into an agreement with Kyushu Electric Power Company (Kyuden) wherein the two shipping companies will provide coal transport services under a long-term charter.
MOL said the vessels to be used will be built by Oshima Shipbuilding and Namura Shipbuilding and will be the world's first LNG-fuelled large coal carriers. Each will have an LOA of 235 metres, a beam of 38 metres, and a deadweight of 95,000 tonnes.
Oshima will deliver the coal carriers slated for NYK beginning in April 2023 while Namura will hand over the MOL-owned vessels from June of the same year.