LPG Dual-Fuel VLGC for Astomos Named "Liberty Pathfinder"

Sep. 06, 2024

A naming ceremony was held on September 4 at the Sakaide Works (Kagawa Prefecture) of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. for a very large gas carrier (VLGC) for Astomos Energy Corporation (Astomos Energy), the world's pre-eminent liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) company.

This is Astomos Energy's fifth LPG dual-fuel carrier, following Gas Amethyst, which was delivered in June.

About 40 people attended the ceremony, including Mitsuru Yamanaka, president of Astomos Energy, and Takaya Soga, president of NYK. Kei Sakaguchi, Astomos Energy director and general manager of its Trading and Shipping Department, named the vessel "Liberty Pathfinder," and his wife cut the ceremonial rope holding the ship in place.

The vessel can also carry ammonia, so the name "Liberty Pathfinder" was chosen because the ship will be a pathfinder to future decarbonization, embodying the independence and freedom that epitomizes "liberty."

Ship Features
The vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can use heavy oil and LPG as fuel. When LPG is used as fuel, sulfur oxides (SOx) in exhaust gas are reduced by more than 95% and carbon dioxide (CO2) by more than 20% compared with conventional heavy oil-fueled vessels.

In addition to LPG, the vessel can carry ammonia, for which demand is expected to increase as it is attracting attention as a means of realizing a decarbonized society in the future.


VLGC "Liberty Pathfinder".   Image by NYK Group.

By further strengthening the long-cultivated close relationship with Astomos Energy and promoting fleet development that considers transportation demand and the environment, NYK is contributing to a low-carbon supply chain to realize a sustainable society.

Vessel Particulars
Length overall: 229.90 m
Breadth: 37.20 m
Depth: 21.90 m
Summer draft: 11.65 m
Tank capacity: 86,953 m3

* A small amount of heavy oil is used as pilot fuel for LPG fuel ignition.

On March 10, 2023, the NYK Group announced its medium-term management plan, "Sail Green, Drive Transformations 2026 — A Passion for Planetary Wellbeing. "Bringing value to life" is our corporate philosophy, and our new vision for 2030 is "Beyond being a comprehensive logistics company, we will co-create the value needed for the future by deepening our core businesses and growing new businesses." We will promote our growth strategy with ESG at the core.

This new vessel is part of our "Sail GREEN" brand, which covers our efforts to reduce GHG emissions through monohakobi (the transport of goods) via ocean, land, and terminals and give back to our customers' supply chains.

Overview of Each Company

Astomos Energy Corporation
Headquarters: Tokyo
President: Mitsuru Yamanaka
Website: Astomos Energy

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Headquarters: Tokyo
President & CEO: Yasuhiko Hashimoto
Website: Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.


From right to left: First, Takaya Soga, President, NYK; Second, Kei Sakaguchi, Atmos Energy Corporation Director and General Manager of Its Trading and Shipping Department; Fourth, Mitsuru Yamanaka, President, Astomos Energy Corporation; Fifth, Keigo Imamura, Keigo Imamura, Managing Executive Officer, Vice President, Energy Solution & Marine Engineering Company, and General Manager, Ship & Offshore Structure Business Division, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.;.   Image by NYK Group.

NYK Group, press release