Mitsui OSK Lines held a ceremony on October 24 for the maiden port of call in Newcastle, Australia of the Shofu Maru , the world’s first coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger (a hard sail wind power propulsion system), which was delivered on October 7.
The Shofu Maru is expected to have 5% less greenhouse gas emissions on a Japan-Australia voyage and about 8% less on a Japan-US voyage compared to a conventional ship of the same type. The vessel is also optimised for slow-speed operation, which will also save a considerable volume of emissions over time, and, as part of that optimisation, does not have a bulbous bow and has a relatively vertical bow.
Mitsui OSK Lines noted that it works closely with the Australian energy industry and port authorities to achieve both stable fuel transport and a reduction in environmental impact. The company added that the ship received a warm welcome to the port from concerned parties representing both Australia and Japan to take on its first cargo.
Nobuo Shiotsu, responsible for Asia and Oceania Region for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines told guests at the ceremony: “In 1897 (125 years ago), our Hikosan Maru carried coal from Port of Newcastle. This was the 1st MOL vessel to call Australia. And in 1917 (105 years ago), our Sydney Representative Office was newly established. So, taking this good opportunity, I would like to say thank you for our long-term relationship & friendship supported by Australian Society.
“Casting a spotlight on the wind as clean and unlimited source of energy, we aim to drastically reduce GHG emissions by reviving sail vessels based on a whole new idea… you may wonder what SHOFU MARU means in Japanese. SHOFU can be divided into two parts, “SHO” and “FU”. “SHO” means “pine”, and “FU” means “wind”. This is because there are black pine trees planted for the purpose of erosion control in discharging port Noshiro, Japan, so we named her “SHOFU MARU” with the hope that she will operate powerfully even under harsh conditions.
Resolving environmental issues is one of crucial MOL Group Corporate Missions. As one of the world’s leading multi-modal companies involved in a variety of social infrastructure businesses, MOL Group is committed to protecting and enhancing the health of our marine & global environment for future generations. One of them is that we announced “MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.1” which aims for net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, we will continue to make all possible efforts such as introducing and shifting to alternative fuel, including ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, and make wider use of LNG as a transitional fuel.
“Talking to the relationship between Australia and MOL group, I am confident that MOL can contribute in many ways to the idea of a hydrogen hub here in Newcastle. In addition, we also want to contribute the offshore wind business off the coast of Newcastle, which we are focusing on as one of our new decarbonized challenges”.
Looking back to my memory in 2018 (4 years ago), together with Hide Irisawa, the MOL Representative in Sydney, we made a presentation about our new challenges including this Wind Challenger Project at Australia/Japan Coal Conference in Brisbane. At that time, this was just our dream. But this is a reality today. Our dream come true thanks to everybody’s efforts involved for this project”.
Shiotsu-san expressed his thanks and gratitude to all the delegates and to everyone who will provide future assistance relating to decarbonisation.
Glen Hayward of the Port of Newcastle also addressed guests. Declaring the Shofu Maru is significant in terms of innovation and sustainability, he described MOL as a “pioneer” in the field of sustainable shipping.
“Congratulations to MOL, you should be very proud of this achievement,” Mr Hayward told guests.
Shipping Australia attended the ceremony as a guest of Mitsui OSK Lines.
Shipping Australia CEO, Captain Melwyn Noronha, thanked the company for the honour of its invitation. He also expressed his admiration and praise for the company’s decarbonisation work.
“Mitsui OSK Lines is a world leading-company in dry bulk and decarbonisation and projects such as the Shofu Maru can only be of benefit to the shipping industry and to the environment. Innovative projects and the ongoing trade between our nations can only deepen and strengthen the friendly relations between Japan and Australia”.
