February 26, 2019
Tomakomai Port Authority
Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.(JAPEX)

Launch of Study Group for LNG Bunkering at Tomakomai Port

Tomakomai Port Authority and Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) will launch the study
group aiming to implement the LNG Bunkering framework based on Tomakomai Port, located between
Tomakomai-city and Atsuma-town of Hokkaido, (hereinafter "the study group") at the end of February 2019.
In International Maritime Organization (IMO), Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPO)
has decided to tighten the regulatory limit of sulfur content in marine fuel in the general sea area, andadopted an Initial IMO Strategy which regulate the reduction of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from theinternational shipping transportation with its targeted objectives and specific countermeasures. Following
these global trends, LNG (liquefied natural gas) is expected to rapidly increase its demand as a marine fuel,which emits less GHG and sulfur contents (SOx) than other fossil fuels. In response with these trends, theconsiderations to adopt LNG fueled vessels as well as the implementation of LNG bunkering have been
accelerating all over the world including Japan.
Tomakomai Port is designated as one of the international base port by the Japanese government and plays
important roles as the international trading hub in Northern part of Japan connecting to North America as
well as China, and Korea, and is also the leading distribution hub ports handling the largest domestic cargovolume in Japan. In "Long-term Grand Design of Tomakomai Port" which is under discussion to describe thefuture image in the next twenty-to-thirty years, the implementation of LNG bunkering framework is listed
as a necessary measure for the contribution to the low-carbon society, based on the trends with IMO
regulations in recent years.
In order to respond to above trends, by utilizing pioneering expertise including Japan's first Ship-to-Ship
LNG transfer experience in Tomakomai Port(*), the study group for specific discussions and studies
concerning the implementation of LNG bunkering will be formed this time.
Approximately 20 members will participate in the study group, which are Tomakomai Port Authority as
the port authority, the regulators such as the local departments of the government and port-related
associations, private companies including the shipping industry such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., andJAPEX as the organizer. The first meeting of the study group will be held at the end of this February and thesix total meetings are scheduled by March 2020. Discussions in the study group will be focused to define thechallenges in terms of operation and applicable regulations and its solutions particularly in view of eachmethod such as Truck-to-Ship, Portable-Tank, and Ship-to-Ship.
After closing of the study group, the discussion summary, particularly concerning the required rules andregulations for LNG bunkering in Tomakomai Port, will be widely shared as the insight, aiming tocontribute the early realization of LNG bunkering in the port as well as further development of the port andits surrounding area.

Page 1 / 2Note)* In the winter season of 2011 and 2012, Ship-to-Ship (STS) LNG transfer operations were carried out totally 54 times inTomakomai port for first time in Japan, from an ocean-going LNG vessel to a feeder LNG vessel, in order to respond the peakdemands from local gas distributors in Hokkaido. (Photo on Left: Distant view of the Tomakomai STS work / Right: Its focusview)###<Reference>
Please visit to the websites for the senders' further information as follows:
Tomakomai Port Authority
http://www.jptmk.com/
Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd.(JAPEX)
https://www.japex.co.jp/english/

Page 2 / 2