In an effort to deal with rising cost of oil and increased emissions regulations, Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd announced plans to build a car carrier that will use liquefied natural gas as its primary fuel source. The ship is expected to transport about 2000 vehicles at one time and is set to start operating in 2015.

As natural gas prices continue to fall, the ships higher initial cost is expected to be offset by lower operating costs. Another advantage of using natural gas is lower carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, by as much as 40% and 80% respectively.

Upon completion this ship will be used for transporting cars in Europe. It is common for manufacturers to use large ocean going RORO (roll-on/roll-off) vessels to transport new automobiles due to efficiency and speed in loading and unloading.

Source: Nikkei