Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has officially taken delivery of the new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Lazulite Ace, built at Tadotsu Shipyard under the Imabari Shipbuilding Group. The vessel represents MOL’s ongoing fleet modernization program, which aims to introduce around 90 locally-built ships powered by LNG or methanol by the end of the decade.
Classed by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK), Lazulite Ace features an LNG dual-fuel propulsion system selected to significantly reduce emissions, cutting CO₂ by 25–30%, NOx by 85%, and SOx by 98% compared with conventional fuel engines. The main engine, a Mitsui-MAN 6S60ME-C10.5-GI, delivers 10,800 kW at 100 rpm, supported by four auxiliary generators, allowing a service speed of 18 knots.
The newbuild measures 199.93 metres in length, with a moulded beam of 38 metres and a depth of 22.8 metres, giving a gross tonnage of 77,965. Its design increases vehicle-carrying capacity by up to 600 units compared with earlier MOL PCTCs, allowing a total of 7,033 CEUs while maintaining the same hull length.
Lazulite Ace will operate under MOL Auto Carrier Express, the company’s vehicle transport division, servicing global automotive logistics routes with enhanced efficiency and a reduced environmental footprint. This delivery underscores MOL’s commitment to sustainability and the transition to cleaner marine fuels across its fleet.
