Kawasaki Heavy Industries has delivered the 86,700 m3 LPG/ammonia carrier Lyla Pathfinder to Camel Maritima SA, marking the latest addition to the shipbuilder's growing fleet of dual-capable gas carriers.

According to a statement published on Kawasaki's website on Thursday, the vessel is the 13th in the company's current series of LPG-fuelled LPG/ammonia carriers. Lyla Pathfinder is capable of transporting both LPG and ammonia, offering greater cargo capacity than Kawasaki's earlier 84,000 m3 LPG carriers while maintaining similar hull dimensions to ensure compatibility with major LPG terminals worldwide. The ability to carry ammonia also positions the vessel to serve growing demand for ammonia as a hydrogen carrier and potential zero-carbon marine fuel, with several major engine manufacturers actively developing ammonia-fuelled engines for commercial shipping.

Ship & Bunker previously reported on the naming ceremony for the vessel last month. The carrier will be chartered to UAE-based LPG trader BGN INT FZCO and managed by NYK, one of Japan's largest shipping companies.

A notable technical feature of Lyla Pathfinder is its shaft generator system, which allows the vessel's diesel generators to be shut down during normal voyages. This enables the ship to operate almost entirely on LPG fuel, requiring only a small quantity of pilot fuel for combustion ignition. LPG as a marine fuel produces significantly lower emissions of sulphur oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide compared to conventional heavy fuel oil, placing it among the transitional fuel options shipowners are adopting ahead of stricter International Maritime Organization greenhouse gas reduction requirements. The IMO's revised strategy, adopted in July 2023, targets net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, with indicative checkpoints calling for reductions of at least 20% by 2030 and 70% by 2040 compared to 2008 levels.

With this delivery, Lyla Pathfinder becomes Kawasaki's 20th vessel capable of running on LPG, underscoring the shipbuilder's commitment to developing cleaner-energy maritime transport solutions. Kawasaki has also been developing liquid hydrogen carrier technology, broadening its portfolio of low- and zero-carbon energy transport vessels as the shipping industry navigates its decarbonisation transition.

Source: Ship & Bunker