Japanese Shipping Major MOL Names LNG Carriers for TotalEnergies and JERA

Japan’s prominent shipping company, Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL), recently made significant moves in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector by naming two new vessels for charter agreements with TotalEnergies Gas & Power Limited (TGPL) and JERA, a joint venture of TEPCO Fuel & Power Incorporated and Chubu Electric Power Company.

MOL Azure Naming Ceremony

The first vessel, named MOL Azure, was unveiled at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in South Korea on January 10, 2025. This LNG carrier, ordered by MOL LNG Ship Management, will be chartered by TotalEnergies under a long-term agreement announced in 2022. The name ‘Azure’ signifies ‘blue’ in French, aligning with MOL’s commitment to sustainability and a prosperous future.

Carolina Pretzel, Senior Vice President of TotalEnergies’ Gas, Renewables, and Power branch, expressed excitement about the vessel’s addition to TotalEnergies’ fleet, enhancing their LNG trading activities.

The MOL Azure is equipped with advanced MAN Energy Solutions engines for improved fuel efficiency and environmental performance. With a length of 294.9 meters and a 174,000-cubic-meter tank, the vessel is set to commence operations after departing for its first loading port in the United States.

Long-Term Charter with JERA

Following the MOL Azure’s naming ceremony, MOL secured a long-term charter contract for another LNG carrier to be built at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) Geoje shipyard. This vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2026, will serve JERA’s LNG transportation needs, marking the eighth collaboration between the two Japanese companies.

MOL’s recent focus on LNG carrier developments also included the naming of the vessel Limail at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding shipyard in China, contributing to QatarEnergy’s LNG fleet expansion program.