NYK Line to develop technology to transfer ammonia bunkers ship-to-ship

Japanese shipping company NYK Line and cargo handling equipment manufacturer TB Global Technologies (TBG) have agreed to jointly develop a technology that can enable safe ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia fuel.

PHOTO: Model of bunkering boom device to transfer ammonia fuel. NYK Line

The duo will jointly develop a device called "bunkering boom", which will be used to transfer ammonia fuel between ships, NYK Line said.

“NYK and TBG will significantly enhance the safety of supplying ammonia, which is highly toxic, to ships by employing TBG's technology to ensure that the liquid does not leak,” the company said in a statement.

For the project, NYK Line will provide data regarding the development of its ammonia bunkering vessel to TBG. The vessel received approval in principle from classification society ClassNK in September 2022.

The new device will consist of strong pipes and hoses to connect one bunker vessel to another to transfer the fuel. It will also feature “swivel joints” that will help to change direction without any hassle.

The project will use TBG's technology "to prevent the liquid inside from leaking out when the device is emergently released from a ship due to a natural disaster, thereby tackling the biggest challenge in ammonia fuel supply, i.e., preventing leakage,” NYK Line added.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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