Hokkaido Gas Co. (Kitagas) and MOL Techno-Trade have completed the first-ever international LNG bunkering operation in Hokkaido, supplying fuel to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s luxury cruise ship, Luminara, at the Port of Hakodate. Executed via a flexible truck-to-ship system, the successful operation establishes a low-capital blueprint for servicing next-generation dual-fuel vessels at local ports of call without heavy infrastructure investments. This milestone advances the Kitagas “Challenge 2030” decarbonization plan, positioning northern Japan as a vital, eco-friendly transit corridor capable of slashing maritime CO2 emissions by up to 25%.
Hakodate | May 22, 2026 – In a significant development for the North Asian cruise market and regional clean fuel infrastructure, Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. (Kitagas) and MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. have successfully completed the first-ever LNG bunkering of a foreign international cruise vessel in Hokkaido.
The operation took place on May 16, 2026, at Wakamatsu Wharf in the Port of Hakodate. The recipient vessel was the Luminara, a newly built, 46,750 gross tonne ultra-luxury dual-fuel LNG cruise superyacht operated by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Truck-to-Ship Logistics: Flexibility Without Heavy Capital Cost
The bunkering operation was executed via a truck-to-ship system, a flexible methodology where fuel is supplied directly from onshore LNG tanker trucks to the vessel moored alongside.
This operational setup allows local suppliers to service high-profile international ports of call dynamically, mitigating the immediate need for heavy capital expenditures on fixed jetty infrastructure or dedicated bunkering barges.
Under the partnership framework, the two entities divided commercial and technical responsibilities to streamline execution:
- Kitagas: Handled the physical procurement, logistics, and technical execution of the LNG bunkering operations at the wharf.
- MOL Techno-Trade: Managed the commercial distribution, regulatory compliance, and underlying contract structures for the fuel sales.
Hokkaido’s Expanding LNG Bunkering Network
This operation marks a steady acceleration of Kitagas’ marine energy strategy, expanding its LNG supply footprint across Hokkaido’s primary maritime Gateways. The company has methodically built its regional supply track record over the past year:
| Date | Location | Vessel / Segment | Operation Type |
| May 2025 | Port of Tomakomai | Domestic Coastwise Ferries | Truck-to-Ship |
| September 2025 | Port of Kushiro | Asuka III (Domestic Cruise Ship) | Truck-to-Ship |
| May 2026 | Port of Hakodate | Luminara (International Cruise Yacht) | Truck-to-Ship |
Strategic and Regulatory Context
The expansion of the LNG bunkering framework aligns directly with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) tightening global environmental mandates. For the hard-to-abate cruise sector, switching from conventional heavy fuel oil (HFO) or marine gas oil (MGO) to LNG offers an immediate 25% reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, while effectively eliminating sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter.
For Kitagas, the successful execution of this international bunker operation forms a core component of its “Challenge 2030” management plan, which targets regional decarbonization and infrastructure development across northern Japan.
By proving the viability of truck-to-ship LNG transfers for elite international operators like The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Kitagas and MOL Techno-Trade have established Hokkaido as a viable, eco-friendly transit corridor for the next generation of dual-fuel cruise liners navigating the trans-Pacific and East Asian circuits.
About Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. (Kitagas)
Established in 1911 and headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. (TSE: 9534) is Northern Japan’s leading multi-energy provider, generating over ¥174 billion in annual revenue through integrated city gas, LNG, and electrical utilities. Guided by its aggressive “Challenge 2030” environmental framework, Kitagas is driving the regional energy transition by pioneering localized natural gas distribution infrastructure, expanding utility-scale renewable energy assets, and scaling flexible marine bunkering corridors. Through these cross-sector infrastructure investments, the group aims to slice regional CO2 emissions by 1.4 million tons by 2030, securing Hokkaido’s vital role in global maritime and industrial decarbonization.
Source: Hokkaido