Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Kanadevia Corporation, and Yanmar Power Solutions have begun full-scale demonstration trials to cut methane slip from LNG-fuelled vessels. The trials, part of Japan’s Green Innovation Fund Project, achieved a remarkable 98 per cent reduction — far above the seventy per cent target.
The initiative, led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), is part of the “Development of Methane Slip Reduction Technology for LNG-Fuelled Vessels through Catalyst and Engine Improvements” project. A portion of the methane in LNG fuel is emitted into the atmosphere unburned as methane. Since methane has a higher greenhouse effect than CO2, reducing methane slip is essential from the perspective of GHG reduction. Trials started in May 2025 on routes including those between Japan and Australia.
The project, spanning six years from FY2021 to FY2026, aims to achieve a methane slip reduction rate of seventy per cent or more for LNG-fuelled vessels by combining methane oxidation catalysts with engine improvements. Its goal is to be the first in the world to socially implement methane slip reduction technology in the maritime sector, a technology that has not yet been established even on land.
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From land-based to onboard trials
Thus far, the project has obtained a 93.8 per cent methane slip reduction rate (at 100 per cent load) in land-based trials, which has been certified by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). Based on these results, the three companies modified the land-based test equipment for onboard use and, starting in May 2025, began full-scale demonstration trials in sea areas including between Japan and Australia using the LNG-fuelled large coal carrier REIMEI, operated by MOL.
In onboard trials, engines are operated under actual operating conditions, subject to constantly changing environmental factors in the engine room as well as fluctuations in load rate due to weather conditions. Even under these conditions, the system achieved a high reduction rate of 98 per cent at the practical operating range (75 per cent load), surpassing the land-based trial results.
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Onboard trials continuing
Going forward, onboard trials will continue through the end of FY2026 to evaluate overall system performance and catalyst durability, with the aim of social implementation from FY2027 onward.
Through this Project, MOL will work with Kanadevia and Yanmar Power Solutions to establish methane slip reduction technology at an early stage and actively contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector.
Picture (top): Demonstration vessel Reimei (photo by MOL).
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