Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has confirmed it will install two Wind Challenger systems on a new LNG carrier slated for long-term charter by Tokyo LNG Tanker Co., Ltd. (TLT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Gas. The ship is being constructed at the Geoje Shipyard of Hanwha Ocean Co., Ltd. in South Korea and is scheduled for delivery in 2026.
The project marks only the second time Wind Challenger sails have been installed on an LNG vessel—an emerging segment in sustainable maritime transport. MOL, which already owns the largest fleet of LNG carriers globally, appears to be steadily broadening its commitment to decarbonization.
The Wind Challenger, developed in collaboration with Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., features a telescoping hard sail design made of fiber-reinforced plastic. Each sail can extend up to 49 meters high with a width of approximately 15 meters. Designed to harness wind power effectively, the sails help reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions, offering both environmental and operational benefits.
The LNG carrier in question will have a length overall (LOA) of 294.9 meters and a breadth of 46.4 meters, with a cargo tank capacity of 174,000 cubic meters using a membrane-type containment system. It will be powered by an ME-GA engine, commonly used in modern LNG carriers for its fuel efficiency.
This isn’t MOL’s first foray into wind propulsion. The company has already delivered two bulk carriers fitted with Wind Challengers and has seven more scheduled for delivery. According to MOL’s previous statements, one of its wind-assisted bulk carriers, the Shofu Maru, achieved a 17% reduction in fuel consumption during its operations.
Tokyo Gas, through TLT, appears aligned with these efforts. With pressure mounting globally for energy companies to reduce emissions across the entire value chain—including transport—investments in cleaner maritime logistics are increasingly viewed as critical.
MOL has publicly framed this initiative within the scope of its broader “Sustainability Issues”, particularly under the themes of “Conservation for Marine and Global Environment” and “Innovation in Marine Technology.” The company’s continued collaboration with shipbuilders and charterers signals a practical shift toward greener shipping, even in traditionally hard-to-decarbonize sectors like LNG.
As regulations tighten and scrutiny intensifies around the environmental impact of shipping, projects like this one may become standard rather than the exception. For now, it’s a telling sign that wind—a force as old as seafaring itself—is quietly making a modern comeback.
