Splash247: MOL debuts radical new LNG carrier design

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has obtained approval in principle (AiP) from a classification society, Lloyd’s Register (LR), for two new designs of a membrane-type LNG carrier equipped with four units of Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system. In addition, safety evaluations were conducted in collaboration with the respective flag states. As a result, this new vessel design, one jointly developed with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, has earned AiP from the Marshall Islands, and the other vessel design jointly developed with Samsung Heavy Industries has an AiP from Liberia.

The AiP covers a new vessel design for a 174,000 cu m LNG carrier, jointly developed by the two Korean yards. Each design will be equipped with four 49 m high Wind Challenger units, a hard sail made of fibre reinforced plastic that MOL has been developing over the past decade. Detailed design work for actual construction is currently underway. 

Last year, MOL obtained AiP to install two Wind Challenger units on a conventional LNG carrier. In the new vessel design, the bridge has been positioned toward the bow to enable both an increase in the number of Wind Challenger units and the optimisation of their placement, thereby maximising fuel efficiency gains. Based on preliminary calculations, fuel saving is expected to reach up to approximately 30% per voyage with an average annual saving of 15-20%.

MOL plans to install Wind Challengers on 25 vessels by 2030 and on 80 vessels by 2035. To date, two vessels have been delivered, and installation has been confirmed for an additional nine vessels.

MOL will exhibit the new LNG vessel design at the Gastech exhibition in Milan this week.