Plumeria Leader – Eco Friendly Car Carrier

In March this year, Japan’s NYK Line took delivery of Plumeria Leader, the company’s second Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) using LNG as the ship’s primary fuel.

Built by Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Owned and operated by NYK Line

Chartered by Toyota Motor Corporation

LOA 199m

Beam 38m

Capacity 7,000 units (standard vehicle equivalent)

NYK plans to take delivery of 20 new LNG fueled car carriers by 2028 while simultaneously preparing for the availability of hydrogen and/or ammonia fueled vessels once the technologies are available and fuel supply infrastructure sufficiently developed.

The company’s transition plan for the more that 100 vessel Pure Care Carrier (PCC) and Pure Car Truck Carrier (PCTC) fleet is shown in the table above.

Plumeria Leader will be approximately 40% more energy efficient (by reducing CO2 emissions per unit of transport) compared to conventional fuel use. The vessel is also expected to reduce sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by approximately 99% and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by approximately 86%.

Courtesy NYK Line

NYK has also signed a long-term consecutive voyage charter (CVC) contract with JFE Steel Corporation for a new Capesize bulk carrier (image above) using LNG as its main fuel. With a deadweight of 210,000 tonnes, the vessel will be delivered in early 2024 and will be used in Pacific iron ore and coal trades.
Supported by the in-house Sail Green Project, the company has set a long-term target of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 for the company’s marine businesses.