Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Takeshi Hashimoto) and Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd. (Asahi Tanker; President: Shigekazu Haruyama; Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) announced that the AKARI, the world's second pure battery tanker, owned and operated by Asahi Tanker, she completed her historic first bunkering operation in Kawasaki on April 14, supplying the MOL-operated iron ore career UNTA. She was delivered on March 28, then sailed from shipyard to Tokyo Bay to enter services.
The AKARI will conduct zero emission bunkering in the Keihin region along with the first pure battery tanker, the ASAHI (Note 2), which was delivered in March 2022.
Large-capacity lithium-ion batteries on the ASAHI and AKARI power every phase of their operations, including cargo handling, berthing/unberthing, and navigation. This results in zero emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the vessel. The tankers deliver outstanding environmental performance, and are expected to reduce crewmembers' workloads by reducing engine maintenance requirements.
MOL and Asahi Tanker will continue bunkering using electric powered tankers to help reduce GHG emissions.
