The second of the two new vessels, SUNFLOWER PIRKA, is scheduled to be delivered in April 2025.

With the addition of these vessels, the MOL Group will operate a fleet of four LNG-fuelled ferries on east-west routes in Japan by 2025, joining the SUNFLOWER KURENAI and SUNFLOWER MURASAKI, which went into service on the Osaka-Beppu route in 2023.

The vessel will be able to reduce CO2 emissions by about 35% compared to currently in-service vessels on the Hokkaido route by adopting various state-of-the-art technologies in addition to LNG fuel, thereby contributing to the reduction of overall CO2 emissions.

In addition, the MOL Group will promote Japan's "Modal Shift" and strive to solve the "2024 problem of logistics," by expanding the loading space for trucks compared to the currently in-service vessels and providing more comfortable space for truck drivers by making all cabins private rooms.

SUNFLOWER KAMUY and SUNFLOWER PIRKA
Passenger capacity: 157
Vehicles (units): 50
Truck loading capacity (units) (converted to 13m): 155
LOA: 199.4m
Gross tonnage: About 15,512
Main engine: 1 x dual fuel low-speed 2-stroke main engine
Main fuel: LNG (the vessel can also be operated on compliant fuel oil)

© Shippax