In Japan, Enviva Holdings LP (Enviva), the world's largest wood pellet producer was honored by the country's leading shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, and other relevant stakeholders, in a recently held naming and delivery ceremony for one of their newest cargo vessels in the city of Imabari, the largest maritime city in Japan.
Enviva exports its pellets, which are produced in US Southeast, to heat and power plants primarily located in the UK, mainland Europe, the Caribbean, and Japan. The delivered handysize vessel was built to transport various dry cargo commodities, including Enviva’s wood pellets.
The vessel will be sailed by Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha (Daiichi) and Enviva’s Contract of Affreightment (COA) with Daiichi enables wood pellet transportation to Japan on a long-term basis.
Enviva’s General Manager for Japan, Fred Miyata, and his wife Rena Miyata were honored by Daiichi as the vessel’s ceremonial godparents, a custom that dates back hundreds of years, in which the couple offer blessings and protection for the ship to ensure its safe return to port.
Daiichi also bestowed the privilege of the naming of the vessel to Mr and Mrs Miyata, which they called “Ocean Virginia”, inspired by one of the Southern US states in Enviva’s operational footprint, and from which wood pellets are shipped to its customers via the Chesapeake Port.
It was a great honor and pleasure for us to name the newest ship, which will deliver sustainable wood pellets to our Japanese customers. Stable and reliable ocean transport is an essential component in building our biomass supply chain. We are truly honored to be able to participate in the industry’s supply chain by collaborating closely with our industrial partners in Japan, said Fred Miyata.
Daiichi, one of Japan’s most important integrated shipping companies, has played a major role in supporting the development of Japanese industries since its founding over 120 years ago.
We are very proud to do our part in contributing towards decarbonization by utilizing our fleet of vessels for the carriage of Enviva’s wood pellets, which now includes our newest arrival, the MV Ocean Virginia. By developing strong partnerships with good customers such as Enviva, we will be able to help make a difference, said Toshihiro Miyazaki, Director and Executive Officer of Daiichi.
a deadweight of almost 38 000 tonnes. It was built in the Shimanami Shipyard in Imabari, Ehime prefecture
in western Japan, where Imabari Shipbuilding’s headquarters is located. This region has a long history of
marine transport and shipping industry dating back to the Middle Ages enduring through various economic
cycles while continuing to provide heavy competition for foreign shipbuilders (photo courtesy Enviva).
