Kokuryu Maru Enters Service Following First Methanol Bunkering in Japan
Japanese partners have finalized the dual-purpose chemical tanker and bunkering vessel Kokuryu Maru, marking its maiden biomethanol fueling operation at Kinoe Port.
A joint initiative comprising Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company (MGC), Kokuka Sangyo Co., and Hanshin Diesel Works has marked the delivery of the Kokuryu Maru, a specialized chemical tanker designed to function additionally as a methanol bunkering vessel. The delivery represents Kokuka Sangyo's inaugural ship engineered to run entirely on methanol.
In conjunction with entering service, the vessel carried out its first methanol bunkering operation at Kinoe Port. The bunkering process utilized domestically sourced biomethanol manufactured via the mass balance methodology at MGC's Niigata Plant.
The 1,223 DWT vessel is fitted with a methanol-fueled main engine ordered by Kokuka Sangyo. The dual-use configuration allows the ship to handle commercial chemical transport while offering bunkering capabilities to other methanol-powered vessels.
The commissioning and successful fueling of the Kokuryu Maru provide an operational test case for regional biomethanol supply infrastructure, demonstrating the domestic supply chain from production through vessel delivery.
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