- Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that its LNG-fueled ferry, Sunflower Kurenai, won the Grand Prize in the 2023 Nikkei Excellent Products and Services Awards, recognizing outstanding new products and services.
- The awards, in their 42nd year, evaluate products based on technological development, cost-effectiveness, performance contribution, growth, uniqueness, and impact on industry and society.
- Sunflower Kurenai was lauded for being the first LNG-fueled ferry in Japan, showcasing its uniqueness and making a positive impact on society by contributing to emissions reduction and promoting a low-carbon, decarbonized environment.
- The ferry’s use of LNG reduces CO2 emissions by about 25%, SOx by 100%, and NOx by approximately 85% compared to conventional vessels. It also enhances cargo capacity, contributes to the modal shift in logistics, and introduces a “Casual Cruise Concept” with improved onboard facilities for a high-quality travel experience.
TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) today announced that Japan’s first LNG-fueled ferry, the Sunflower Kurenai(Note) owned by MOL and operated by its group company MOL Sunflower, Ltd. (President: Hirotoshi Ushioku; Head Office Chiyoda-ku), won the highest award, the Grand Prize, in the 2023 Nikkei Excellent Products and Services Awards, according to a press release published on its website.
About the ferry
The Nikkei Excellent Products and Services Awards, marking their 42nd anniversary this year, are presented every year to particularly outstanding new products and services. Products and services launched during the year 2023 and published in the media of Nikkei Inc. are judged comprehensively in the following six categories: 1) technological development, 2) cost-effectiveness, 3) performance contribution, 4) growth, 5) uniqueness, and 6) impact on industry and society. In 2023, 16 best products and services (5 for production goods, 5 for consumer goods, and 6 for services) were selected from 228 candidates as particularly outstanding new products and services.
The Sunflower Kurenai was highly regarded, especially for its uniqueness and social impact, as it was the first LNG-fueled ferry to enter service in Japan.
Features of the vessel
- Use of LNG fuel
Compared to conventional vessels fueled by heavy oil, the use of LNG reduces emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by about 25%, sulfur oxides (SOx) by 100%, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by about 85%. This contributes to the realization of a low-carbon, decarbonized society. - Increased cargo capacity
Significantly increased the number of trucks that can be transported. In addition, the drivers’ rooms have been expanded to enhance the comfort of truck drivers while they are onboard the ferry. This will encourage the advancement of Japan’s modal shift and help solve the 2024 problem in logistics. - Expansion of ‘Casual Cruise Concept’
The Sunflower Kurenai offers enhanced onboard facilities befitting a “Casual Cruise,” the basic idea behind the MOL Group’s ferry business, enabling customers to enjoy cruising as a high-quality means of travel by using regularly scheduled routes. The floor area of the Grand Bathroom is doubled, the number of seats in the restaurant was enlarged 1.5 times, and spacious and open public areas including a three-layer atrium were newly created. The vessel also features high-grade rooms that promise comfortable relaxation in an extraordinary space, such as suites with balconies that provide comfort for people of all ages, and with pet rooms where passengers can spend the whole night with their pets. The new ferry contributes to improving the well-being of customers by providing a pleasant cruise experience.
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Source: MOL
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