Japan’s NYK has named its newest dual-fuel very large gas carrier (VLGC), Lyla Pathfinder, at a ceremony held on July 7 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works. The vessel is the eighth dual-fuel LPG carrier ordered by NYK and will be chartered to UAE-based LPG trader BGN INT FZCO for worldwide LPG transportation upon delivery.
The naming ceremony was attended by around 30 stakeholders, including BGN LPG Director Takayuki Koike. The vessel was officially named by Masao Kawakami, an LPG trader at BGN, while Wendy Jungsuk Kwon, also from BGN, performed the traditional rope-cutting ceremony.
Designed with future-ready capabilities, Lyla Pathfinder is built to transport both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ammonia, positioning it to support the growing clean energy market. The vessel’s name reflects this vision, with “Pathfinder” symbolizing the journey toward decarbonization and “Lyla,” meaning “night” in Arabic, representing a safe and smooth voyage.
The VLGC is equipped with a dual-fuel engine capable of operating on both LPG and conventional heavy fuel oil. It also features a shaft generator system that harnesses the rotational energy of the propulsion shaft to generate electricity, significantly reducing the need for diesel-powered generators and enabling near-complete operation on LPG.
According to NYK, using LPG as fuel reduces sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by more than 95% and lowers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 20% compared with conventional heavy fuel oil. The vessel’s ammonia-ready design further enhances its long-term sustainability credentials as demand for carbon-free fuels continues to grow.
The addition of Lyla Pathfinder reinforces NYK’s commitment to expanding its environmentally friendly fleet while supporting the global transition toward cleaner maritime transport.