Kawasaki Heavy Industries has delivered the 86,700-cbm LPG-fuelled LPG/ammonia carrier Lyla Pathfinder to Camel Maritima S.A., marking the 13th vessel of the Japanese shipbuilder's latest 86,700-cbm LPG/ammonia carrier series.

The vessel is designated the company's 1,769th ship overall and its 83rd LPG carrier. It is also the 20th vessel using LPG-fuel propulsion to be delivered by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

LPG propulsion and shaft generator

Lyla Pathfinder is equipped with a dual-fuel Kawasaki-MAN B&W 6G60ME-C10.5-LGIP electronically controlled liquefied petroleum gas injection diesel engine capable of operating on both conventional marine fuel and LPG.

A shaft generator — mounted on the shaft connecting the main engine to the propeller — allows onboard power to be generated from the main engine output. When the shaft generator is in operation during normal voyages, the diesel generator can be shut down, Kawasaki notes, enabling complete operation on LPG alone — with the exception of a small quantity of pilot fuel.

For nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, the vessel employs a system said to comply with IMO Tier III regulations: the main engine uses exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), while the generator engine uses selective catalytic reduction (SCR). This is designed to enable the ship to navigate in NOx emission control areas (ECAs) even when using conventional low-sulphur fuel oil.

The carrier is able to simultaneously transport cargoes of both LPG and ammonia. Its new design increases cargo capacity compared with Kawasaki's conventional 84,000-cbm LPG carriers, while retaining broadly similar hull dimensions — including overall length and beam — to allow the vessel to call at major LPG terminals worldwide.

Energy-saving features and ammonia-readiness

Fuel consumption is said to be reduced through the fitting of Kawasaki finned rudder valves, contra-finned semi-ducts and energy-saving fins around the propeller.

The ship has also received concept design approval from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NK), Japan's maritime classification society, for the use of ammonia as marine fuel. This approval means the vessel can, in principle, be retrofitted in future to enable ammonia fuel use.

The Lyla Pathfinder measures 229.90 m in length, 37.20 m in beam and 21.90 m in depth, with a full-load draught of 11.65 m and a service speed of approximately 17.0 knots. It has a gross tonnage of 49,561, a deadweight of 56,330 tonnes and a cargo hold volume of 86,935 cbm. The vessel is registered under the Panama flag.