Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has tied up long-term employment for an LNG carrier newbuilding, marking its first such deal with compatriot energy player Inpex Corporation. The charter has been agreed between MOL’s subsidiary MOL Encean and Inpex Shipping for the 174,000 cu m LNG carrier Harmonic Breeze, built in 2026. The vessel was recently named at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje yard, with senior executives from both companies in attendance. Once delivered, the ship will go on long-term charter to support LNG transport for Inpex, strengthening the energy company’s supply chain. MOL said the deal represents its first LNG carrier fixed on a long-term basis with the Inpex group, underlining closer ties between the two Japanese players in the gas space. The Harmonic Breeze has been fitted with fuel-saving and emissions-reduction technology, including an air lubrication system and a shaft generator. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsJapan