- MOL secured AiP from Lloyd’s Register for two LNG carrier designs equipped with four Wind Challenger units.
- The 174,000m³ vessels, developed with Hyundai and Samsung shipyards, are designed for up to 30% fuel savings.
- Safety assessments with shipyards, classification societies, and flag states supported the approvals.
- MOL targets 25 Wind Challenger-equipped vessels by 2030 and 80 by 2035 as part of its decarbonization strategy.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has received approval in principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register for two new membrane-type LNG carrier designs, each equipped with four Wind Challenger units. Developed in partnership with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries, the designs also earned AiP recognition from the Marshall Islands and Liberia flag states, according to an announcement from Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
The new LNG carrier designs feature a 174,000m³ capacity and incorporate four Wind Challenger units to maximize fuel efficiency. This marks a step forward from MOL’s earlier AiP approval for vessels equipped with two units. In the updated design, the bridge has been positioned closer to the bow, enabling more units to be installed and improving their placement for optimal wind use.
Preliminary estimates suggest that these enhancements could deliver up to 30% fuel savings per voyage, with average annual savings of 15–20%. Safety evaluations, conducted with classification societies, shipyards, and flag states, covered sail arrangement, visibility, emergency operations, and other key aspects before AiP approval was granted.
MOL will showcase the design at Gastech 2025 in Milan, alongside a commemorative ceremony. The Wind Challenger forms a core element of MOL’s “Environmental Vision 2.2,” which targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The group aims to equip 25 vessels with Wind Challenger systems by 2030 and expand that number to 80 by 2035, reinforcing its role in advancing low- and zero-emission shipping technologies..
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Source: Mitsui O.S.K.Lines
