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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. MOL Coastal Shipping, Ltd. Tabuchi Kaiun Co., Ltd. Niihama Kaiun Co., Ltd. Murakami Hide Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Hanshin Diesel Works, Ltd. 23 March 2023 
The vessel will be jointly owned by MOL Coastal Shipping, Tabuchi Kaiun, and Niihama Kaiun, and on December 28, 2022, those three companies signed a shipbuilding contract with Murakami Hide Shipbuilding. The vessel will be built at Kanasashi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. part of the Murakami Hide Shipbuilding Group and is slated for delivery in December 2024. It will be bareboat chartered to Niihama Shipping through the three shipowning companies, and then time-chartered to MOL Coastal Shipping through Tabuchi Kaiun. MOL Coastal Shipping will sign a time charter contract with Mitsubishi Corporation, and the vessel will be engaged in domestic methanol transport from the time of delivery. Based on the strategic alliance, MOL will provide technical support for the development of the vessel and further promote and develop this strategic alliance, while Hanshin Diesel Works will develop a methanol-fueled engine. Compared to heavy oil, which is currently the primary marine fuel oil, the use of methanol fuel can reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by up to 99%, particulate matter (PM) emissions by up to 95%, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 80%, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 15%. Methanol fuel is already in practical use and can be supplied and bunkered at about 130 major ports worldwide. The use of methanol derived from non-fossil energy sources, such as e-methanol produced by synthesizing CO2 recovered from various emission sources and hydrogen produced using renewable energy, and biogas-derived bio-methanol, can lead to further reductions in net GHG emissions. Methanol is used as an environmentally friendly fuel in oceangoing vessels, including five vessels operated by the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Group, and such use is expected to be significantly expanding in next couple of years. However, this is the first time it has been used in coastal vessels. 
The six alliance partners will bring together their respective strengths in technology, know-how, and networks (Note 2) to realize a low-carbon, decarbonized society. Outline of the vessel Gross tonnage: about 570 tons LOA: about 65.50m Breadth: 10.00m Draft: about 4.38m Speed: 11.15 knots or higher Main engine: One Hanshin Diesel Works "LA28M" methanol-fueled marine engine (Note 1) The program subsidizes the costs of demonstration projects aimed at optimizing overall transport through measures from software aspects such as optimization of operational planning and cargo handling, and those from software aspects such as energy-efficient hulls, high-efficiency propulsion systems, and efficient cargo handling equipment. (Note 2) Roles of companies in the business alliance 
Outline of companies Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. Established May 1884 Head Office 2-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto Business Ocean shipping, etc. MOL Coastal Shipping, Ltd. Established December 22, 1953 Head Office 2-1-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Representative President Hiroshi Kobayashi Business Marine transport Tabuchi Kaiun Co., Ltd. Established October 1935 Head Office 2-3-11 Minamisemba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Representative Norio Tabuchi Business Marine transportation, etc. Niihama Kaiun Co., Ltd., Established August 1948 Head Office 1-4-18 Nishibaracho, Niihama-shi, Ehime Representative President and Representative Director Shuichi Moriga Business Marine transportation Murakami Hide Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Established November 1963 Head Office 4641-2 Kinoura, Hakata, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture Representative Eiji Murakami Business Ship newbuilding and ship repair, etc. Hanshin Diesel Works, Ltd. Established January 1918 Head Office Shinko Building 4th Floor, 8 Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Representative President Kazuhiko Kinoshita Business Production of marine engines, etc. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. press release 
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