A Kumiai Navigation VLGC newbuilding has scored highly in an environmental assessment scheme run under a new green finance offering from the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ).
The DJB has provided sustainable finance for the acquisition of the 84,000-cbm Crystal Oasis newbuilding delivered to Kumiai in June this year from Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Under the DBJ’s Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance Scheme, ships are evaluated by classification society ClassNK to assess the vessel’s “decarbonisation, environmentally friendly performance and innovativeness”.
The Crystal Oasis is the first ship to be put through the scheme and was given an S rating — the highest a ship can receive.
The assessment found the dual-fuel LPG engine helped reduce carbon and SOx emissions.
The vessel also complied with the Phase 3 of the Energy Efficiency Design Index well ahead of its enforcement.
The ship has also adopted ClassNK’s Advanced Environmental Awareness notation to reduce its environmental impact further.
An exhaust gas recirculation system and a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system have also been installed on the Crystal Oasis to reduce NOx emissions.
The DBJ and ClassNK hope to use the funding and assessment scheme to promote the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.
“Through the expansion of the programme, DBJ and ClassNK will support shipping companies’ efforts to contribute to the transition towards decarbonisation in the entire maritime industry,” the DJB said.
