Japanese shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivered the Shinshu Maru liquefied natural gas carrier to Trans Pacific Shipping 7, a joint venture between JERA and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line). 

The vessel with the capacity of 177,000 cubic meters is the second such vessel in Kawasaki’s line to be commissioned.

It is equipped with four independent Moss LNG tanks with increased diameter and DFD electric propulsion system.

The vessel is designed to enable passage through the newly expanded Panama Canal, which opened for full operations in 2016, and will be used by JERA to transport LNG procured via the Freeport LNG Project in the U.S.

The vessel features standard LNG carrier hull dimensions in order to enable docking at major LNG terminals around the world while offering larger cargo tanks for increased transport capacity, Kawasaki said in a statement.

Additionally, the shipbuilder noted the vessel features an LNG boil-off rate of no more than approximately 0.08 percent per day.