Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President & CEO: Jotaro Tamura, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) today announced that it held a naming ceremony on September 10, 2026, at Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd.'s Geoje Shipyard in South Korea for the world's first LNG carrier that equipped with two units of Wind Challenger, Hard sail wind-assisted propulsion system.
The vessel will be delivered under a long-term charter contract to Chevron Corporation (Chevron) at the end of September 2026. The Wind Challenger system is expected to reduce fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional propulsion alone.
The ceremony was attended by numerous guests and stakeholders. The vessel was formally named FUJIN SAILOR by Ms. Molly T. Laegeler, President of Chevron's Supply & Trading business and the vessel's Godmother.
The vessel is the world's first LNG carrier equipped with a wind-assisted propulsion system, and also the world's first vessel of any type equipped with two Wind Challenger units, and the fourth of a total of eleven MOL Group vessels that have been or will be equipped with the Wind Challenger. The vessel represents a significant milestone in the application of wind-assisted propulsion technology to LNG transportation and reflects the collaborative efforts of MOL, Chevron and Hanwha Ocean to bring practical maritime innovation from concept to commercial operation.
Molly T. Laegeler, President, Supply & Trading, Chevron said "Reliable energy supply depends on trusted partnerships and continuous innovation. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with our partners at MOL and Hanwha Ocean. FUJIN SAILOR represents the combined efforts of many and demonstrates how practical innovation can help reduce the carbon intensity of LNG transportation while supporting the safe and reliable delivery of energy around the world."
Makoto Inomoto, Managing Executive Officer responsible for LNG and Ethane Business, MOL said, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Hanwha Ocean for its strong technical support in realizing the groundbreaking innovative of installing the Wind Challenger on the vessel, as well as to Chevron for their understanding and cooperation in making this project possible. FUJIN SAILOR plays a vital role in ensuring a stable energy supply while advancing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of LNG shipping. Through the installation of wind-assisted propulsion technology, this vessel represents a new milestone in innovation of LNG carriers and is expected to contribute to the greater integration of new technologies to support GHG management in LNG transportation."
MOL has set the target of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 in the "MOL Group Environmental Vision -BLUE ACTION 2035 Phase2-." One of the main actions to achieve this target is the "introduction of further energy-saving technologies," and the group plans to launch 25 vessels equipped with the Wind Challenger by 2030, increasing to 80 by 2035.
As the world's largest owner of LNG carriers, MOL remains committed to promoting a decarbonized society. Through proactive efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of LNG ocean transport, we are addressing the increasing global demand with innovative and sustainable approaches.
