With this initiative, the government will speed commercialization of these ships that are expected to largely replace oil-fuelled vessels as natural gas emits 25 percent less carbon dioxide and up to 70 percent less nitrogen oxide than petroleum, according to ministry officials.
Currently, about 20 LNG ships are operating -all as domestic vessels in Norway- due to a lack of safety standards worldwide. New norms will allow Japanese shipbuilders and shipping companies to seize an advantage by being the first to introduce the environmentally-friendly ships in a big way, reported Mainichi Daily News.
Requesting a budget of 647 million yen in fiscal 2012 for the work, the ministry plans to make a model fuel tank and engine on shore to confirm the strength of piping and features. It will also conduct an experiment involving refuelling at sea a ship with LNG, which easily gasifies.
