Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd. announced that Japan’s first LNG-fueled ferry, Sunflower Kurenai owned by MOL and operated by its group company MOL Sunflower Ltd won the highest award, the Grand Prize, in the 2023 Nikkei Excellent Products and Services Awards.
The Nikkei Excellent Products and Services Awards, marking their 42nd anniversary this year, are presented every year to particularly outstanding new products and services.
Sunflower Kurenai was highly regarded, especially for its uniqueness and social impact, as it was the first LNG-fuelled ferry to enter service in Japan.
Compared to conventional vessels fueled by heavy oil, the use of LNG reduces emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by about 25%, sulfur oxides (SOx) by 100%, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by about 85%.
She offers increased cargo capacity and has significantly increased the number of trucks that can be transported. In addition, the drivers’ rooms have been expanded to enhance the comfort of truck drivers while they are onboard the ferry.
Sunflower Kurenai offers enhanced onboard facilities befitting a “Casual Cruise,” the basic idea behind the MOL Group’s ferry business, enabling customers to enjoy cruising as a high-quality means of travel by using regularly scheduled routes.
The vessel also features high-grade rooms that promise comfortable relaxation in an extraordinary space, such as suites with balconies that provide comfort for people of all ages, and with pet rooms where passengers can spend the whole night with their pets.
