Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) announced that a naming ceremony for a newbuilding LNG carrier was held on 9 Sep 2026 at a Samsung Heavy Industries facility in South Korea, where the vessel was christened TOHO EMERALD. The ship is owned through a joint venture involving Toho LNG Shipping, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toho Gas. The arrangement reflects a common structure in the LNG shipping sector, where operators such as K Line partner with subsidiaries of gas utility companies to secure dedicated tonnage for long-term transport contracts. Samsung Heavy Industries, one of South Korea's major shipbuilders, constructed the vessel at its facility, underscoring the continued role of South Korean yards in delivering specialized LNG carriers for Japanese energy and shipping companies. Naming ceremonies mark a key milestone in a vessel's construction cycle, typically preceding sea trials and final delivery to the owner. The TOHO EMERALD is expected to support Toho Gas's LNG supply chain once fully delivered and placed into service, though further details on delivery timing, vessel specifications and deployment routes were not disclosed in the announcement.