MOL Delivers Dual-Fuel Methanol Carrier ‘Kohzan Maru VII’ For Long-Term Charter

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) announced that on May 30, the Kohzan Maru VII (Note), a newbuilding methanol dual-fuel methanol carrier, was delivered at HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD; President: H.K. Kim, Headquarters: Ulsan, South Korea).

The Kohzan Maru VII will serve Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. (MGC; President and Representative Director: Yoshinori Isahaya; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) under a long-term charter by MOL from Eifuku Kaiun Co., Ltd. (President: Takumi Watanabe, Head Office: Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture).

Naming Ceremony

On May 23, before the vessel’s delivery, a naming ceremony took place at HD Hyundai Mipo, where MGC Chairman Masashi Fujii officially christened the vessel “Kohzan Maru VII”. She is the first methanol dual-fuel ocean-going vessel to sail under a long-term chartered by a Japanese charterer.

Back in 1983, MOL and MGC introduced Japan’s first methanol dedicated carrier, the “Kohzan Maru”, pioneering safe and efficient marine transport of methanol. Building on the expertise gained from the first-generation Kohzan Maru, Kohzan Maru VII will advance the use of sustainable methanol by utilizing it as her marine fuel, as well as transporting environmentally sustainable methanol derived from renewable resources by MGC.

Environmental Vision

MOL and MGC, who had been pursuing the industry-leading maritime transportations to meet evolving needs, will strengthen their leadership in driving the transition toward a carbon-neutral society through the operation of Kohzan Maru VII.

MOL has established the “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2,” and aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. It is pursuing the adoption of clean alternative fuels to achieve this target, and the company set a target of 90 LNG/methanol-fueled vessels in service by 2030.

Future Plans

MOL operates one of the world’s largest fleets of methanol dedicated vessels, with a total of 19 vessels. Since the delivery of the world’s first methanol dual-fuel vessel in 2016, a total of eight of those vessels, including the Kohzan Maru VII, have been ordered. Drawing upon its extensive expertise, MOL aims to further expand its methanol dual-fuel fleet as it works toward the achievement of net-zero emissions.

Press Release