MOL has ordered Japan’s first LNG-fuelled ferry newbuildings at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The deal involves two 17,300-gt vessels each with the capacity to carry 763 passengers.

The ships will be built at Mitsubishi’s Shimonoseki shipyard for delivery in 2022 and 2023. No price has been disclosed for the deal.

The ferries will be operated by MOL subsidiary Ferry Sunflower and operate between the mainland city of Osaka and Beppu on the island of Kyushu.