Japan’s MOL and Osaka name new LNG Mars carrier

Japanese transport company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has named a new LNG carrier being built at the Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is constructing the vessel, LNG Mars, under an order from MOL and Osaka Gas subsidiary, Osaka Gas International Transport.

Co-owned by MOL and Osaka, the new-build will be deployed to serve a range of contracts, including the Osaka Gas Gorgon project.

The new, 288m-long and 48.94m-wide LNG carrier will have a tank capacity of about 155,000m³ and loading capacity of 153,000m³.

With a deadweight tonnage of 138,000 metric tonnes, the new vessel will be capable of cruising at a speed of 19.5k.

Osaka Gas named its sister vessel, LNG Venus, in October last year.

In May this year, MOL received the first vessel in a series of four LNG carriers from Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding.

Named Papua, the vessel is co-owned by Chinese ship-owner China Shipping (Group) Company, and Energy Company China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC).

Carriers being built by Hudong-Zhonghua will be deployed to provide LNG transportation for the PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea and the Gorgon Jansz LNG project in Australia, the company stated.

Meanwhile, in April, MOL signed a contract with Japan-based Minaminippon Shipbuilding to build four next-generation car carriers.

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/newsjapans-mol-and-osaka-name-new-lng-mars-carrier-4579512