On December 28, 2023, Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) delivered the ENEOS MIRAI, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fueled LPG/ammonia carrier.
ENEOS MIRAI is KHI’s third LPG-fueled 86,700 m3 LPG/ammonia carrier, an upgraded version of the existing 84,000 m3 LPG carrier, with increased cargo tank capacity and ammonia carrying capacity. The first 86,700 m3 LPG/ammonia carrier “AXIS RIVER” was delivered in June 2023.
The vessel is powered by LPG. It is 229.90m in overall length, 37.20m in beam, 11.65m in full load draft, sailing speed about 17 knots, crew of 29, gross tonnage of 49,541 tons and the deadweight of 56,503 tons. Equipped with Kawasaki-MAN B&W 6G60ME-C10.5-LGIP diesel engine, it is classed by ClassNK. The vessel is the 10th LPG-powered vessel built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the 73rd LPG carrier built by this shipyard.
The vessel is equipped with separate liquid cargo tanks to transport both LPG and ammonia. While LPG is already widely used as a low carbon emission fuel, ammonia is attracting attention as the next generation of alternative fuels for decarbonization in the shipping industry. The vessel has been designed to increase cargo hold capacity whilst having similar key dimensions to conventional types of vessels so that the vessel can be berthed at major LPG terminals around the world.