MOL & JFE Steel launch LNG-powered greener ship

A SIGNIFICANT step towards decarbonizing the shipping industry was marked on April 18, with the delivery of the Verde Heraldo, an advanced LNG-fueled Capesize bulker commissioned by JFE Steel Corporation and built by Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

The vessel's naming ceremony, held at the Saijo Shipyard, saw JFE Steel President and CEO Masayuki Hirose name the vessel Verde Heraldo, meaning "Green Pioneer" in Spanish, a testament to its environmentally conscious design. MOL President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto joined other MOL leaders at the event.

The Verde Heraldo will operate under long-term transport agreements, ensuring a stable supply of raw materials for JFE Steel's mills while significantly reducing the environmental footprint of these crucial voyages. By utilizing LNG as its primary fuel, the bulker will emit substantially less greenhouse gases.

The vessel's first refueling will take place at Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.'s Senboku Terminal via a shore-to-ship bunkering operation after departing the Saijo Shipyard, before it sets sail for Australia.

This delivery highlights MOL's proactive approach to achieving its ambitious goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The adoption of LNG-fueled vessels is a cornerstone of their immediate and ongoing efforts to decrease overall GHG emissions, in accordance with their "MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2," which champions the integration of clean energy solutions for a sustainable future.