Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a Japanese shipbuilder, recently delivered an 86,700 cbm liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-powered LPG/liquid ammonia carrier, GAS AMETHYST (Hull No. 1760).
The GAS AMETHYST is the fifth LPG-fueled 86,700 cbm LPG/ammonia carrier to be built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and is an upgraded version of the existing 84,000 cbm LPG carrier, with an increase in cargo tank capacity and ammonia carrying capacity. The shipyard’s first 86,700 cbm LPG/ammonia carrier, the AXIS RIVER, was delivered in June 2023.
GAS AMETHYST is the 12th LPG-powered vessel built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the 75th LPG carrier built by the shipyard. Measuring 229.90m in overall length, 37.20m in beam, 21.90m in depth, 11.65m in full load draft, and with a speed of about 17.0 knots, the vessel has a crew of 30, a gross tonnage of 49,561 tons and a deadweight of 56,337 tons.
It is equipped with Kawasaki-MAN B&W 6G60ME-C10.5-LGIP 1 main engine, shaft generator, exhaust gas recirculation system and SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system, etc. Classed by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), it is under the Panama flag. Except for a small amount of pilot fuel, it can be operated entirely on LPG fuel, which makes it more environmentally friendly.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries said the delivery of the 86,700 cbm LPG/ammonia carrier is equipped with separate liquid cargo tanks for transporting both LPG and ammonia, as well as the ability to mix loads at the same time. The LPG/ammonia carrier has been designed to increase cargo tank capacity while keeping its main dimensions similar to those of a conventional vessel so that it can be berthed at major LPG terminals around the world.