With increasing demand for environmental protection and improvements in marine vessel operations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for the control of emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOX) and sulfur oxide (SOX), as well as carbon dioxide (CO2) per ton mile. As one of the promising solutions for the reduction of exhaust emissions from vessels, switching from conventional heavy fuel oils to liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being studied and pursued. This article describes concept vessels that use LNG fuels to reduce environmental impact, as developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI).
