NYK Line to bunker tugboat with ammonia by May-end

Japanese shipping major Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) has announced that its ammonia-fuelled tugboat will bunker ammonia by the end of May.

PHOTO: Model of ammonia-powered tugboat. NYK Line

NYK Line collaborated with engine maker IHI Power Systems for developing the engine for the soon-to-be-completed tugboat, A-Tug. The vessel has been safety reviewed by classification society ClassNK.

Last December, NYK Line, power generation firm JERA, and chemical company Resonac agreed to jointly explore the provision of ammonia fuel for ships. They worked together to develop safe operational practices, create infrastructure for transporting and receiving ammonia in ports. They also agreed to advocate for the establishment of regulatory frameworks for supply of ammonia as marine fuel.

NYK's announcement comes after the trio reached “a safe and secure point of supplying fuel ammonia to ships,” the company said.

The stem will be delivered via a truck at the port of Yokohama. "If realized, this will be the world's first case of fuel ammonia replenishment to a ship using the truck-to-ship method," NYK Line stated.

NYK Line’s subsidiary, Shin Nippon Kaiyosha, has also inked a deal with JERA for regular supply of ammonia fuel to A-Tug, following its completion.

However, the company has not disclosed whether the ammonia utilised will be brown (generated with fossil fuels), blue (produced with fossil fuels but incorporates carbon capture and storage to reduce emissions) or green (produced with renewable energy), which could significantly impact its carbon dioxide reduction potential.

By Tuhin Roy

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