<article><p class="lead">Japanese shipping firm Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has launched its third LNG-fuelled car carrier, advancing in its goal of operating 20 such carriers by March 2029.</p><p>The 72,800 gross tonne <i>Jasmine Leader</i>, which can carry 7,000 passenger cars, entered Japan's western Hiroshima port on 27 February after being fuelled up by LNG bunker barge <i>Kaguya</i>. The barge is based at Japanese power utility Jera's Kawagoe LNG import terminal in Mie prefecture. </p><p>The new ship will mainly transport automobiles manufactured by domestic carmaker Mazda. </p><p>It was built by Chinese state-owned shipbuilder China Merchants Nanjing Jinling Shipyard after NYK <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2186431">placed an order in 2021 for four car carriers</a> with the same specification. <i>Jasmine Leader</i> is the first of the four to be launched.</p><p>NYK launched its first LNG-fuelled vessel <i>Sakura Leader</i> in <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2154276">October 2020</a>, which was followed by the <i>Plumeria Leader</i> in <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2315482">March 2022</a>. These ships were built at the Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding yard, for Japanese car manufacturer Toyota.</p><p>Some ports in Tokyo, Ise/Mikawa, Osaka, Tomakomai and Kita-Kyushu bays will <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2199715">waive or reduce the port entry fees</a> for ships that are fuelled by LNG and LNG bunker barges to incentivise use of alternative marine fuels. But the port of Hiroshima has not introduced such a measure so far.</p><p class="bylines">By Maiko Nakashima</p></article>
