NYK Names Sixth Dual-Fuel LPG Carrier “Luna Pathfinder”

A naming ceremony was held at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. for a newly constructed very large gas carrier (VLGC), the latest in a series of dual-fuel vessels ordered by NYK. This marks the sixth such ship to join the fleet, following the delivery of Liberty Pathfinder in October 2024.

The vessel, named Luna Pathfinder, will be chartered to Astomos Energy Corporation for both domestic and international liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transport. Astomos is a major player in the global LPG market.

Approximately 50 guests attended the ceremony, including Toshinobu Sato, vice president of Astomos Energy, and Hironobu Watanabe, managing executive officer of NYK. The vessel was officially named by Sato, and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting was carried out by his wife.

The name Luna Pathfinder is intended to represent a directional marker toward a lower-emission future. “Pathfinder” signifies guidance or a way forward, while “Luna,” referring to the Roman goddess of the moon, symbolizes quiet and safe passage under the night sky. The vessel is designed to carry both LPG and ammonia, a fuel gaining attention in decarbonization strategies.

The ship is fitted with a dual-fuel engine that can operate on both heavy oil and LPG. During standard operation, the main engine’s shaft generates electricity, reducing reliance on diesel generators. This configuration allows for primary operation on LPG, cutting sulfur oxide emissions by over 95 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 percent when compared to conventional heavy fuel oil.

In addition to LPG, the carrier is equipped to transport ammonia, for which future demand is projected to rise as part of global decarbonization initiatives.

Vessel Specifications:
Length overall: 229.90 meters
Breadth: 37.20 meters
Depth: 21.90 meters
Summer draft: 11.65 meters
Tank capacity: 86,920 cubic meters