Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel to launch in 2020

TOKYO, July 6 (Reuters) -

* Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Chubu Electric Power , Toyota Tsusho, and Nippon Yusen KK said on Friday that their joint venture has placed an order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel with Kawasaki Heavy Industries

* The vessel, which is scheduled to be delivered around September-December 2020, will be the first LNG bunkering vessel to be operated in Japan, the companies said in a statement

* The companies plan to start supplying LNG to vessels as fuel in the Chubu region in central Japan.

* LNG is seen as an alternative to bunker fuel oil for shipping lines facing a 2020 deadline to meet new international standards on sulphur emissions (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr.)