K LINE orders four LNG dual-fuel car carriers for European operations

Each ship can carry 1,380 vehicles.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has signed a contract with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. to build four LNG dual-fuel car carriers, each with a capacity of 1,380 vehicles.

The vessels will operate under K Line European Sea Highway Services GmbH (KESS), supporting short-sea shipping across Europe.

The new ships are designed for frequent, small-lot cargo transport and are compliant with strict European port size restrictions, improving access and operational efficiency.

Each vessel will feature straight stern ramps with a 60-ton capacity, enabling transport of heavy and oversized cargo in addition to passenger vehicles.

Powered by LNG dual-fuel systems, the ships are expected to cut CO₂ emissions by 25–30% and nearly eliminate SOx emissions compared with heavy fuel oil vessels. They will also be capable of using alternative fuels such as bio-LNG and bio-diesel in the future.

The vessels will use high-pressure ME-GI engines, shaft generators, and vacuum-insulated LNG tanks to reduce methane slip and boil-off gas, further lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is part of “K” LINE’s Environmental Vision 2050 strategy, which targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through fleet modernisation and cleaner fuels.