Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has conducted the first LNG bunkering operation in Western Japan.

NYK said on Wednesday that the company conducted the first LNG bunkering operation in the Setouchi and Kyushu areas in Japan alongside Kyushu Electric Power, Saibu Gas, and Chugoku Electric Power.

The company conducted a truck-to-ship LNG bunkering demonstration at the port of Kitakyushu.

According to the company, this operation advances the four companies’ discussions on the commercialization of a new business in the area.

The LNG fuel was loaded onto a tank truck at the Hibiki LNG terminal in Kitakyushu city, trucked to a pier in the Asano district, and then supplied to the LNG-fueled tugboat Sakigake using the truck-to-ship method.

It is worth noting that, since August 2018, the four companies have been in joint discussions on the commercialization of LNG bunkering, and this demonstration validates the feasibility of LNG bunkering in the area.

“Going forward, the four companies will utilize the experience gained from this operation to accelerate commercialization,” NYK stated.