NYK concludes contract for modifying LNG-fuelled tugboat to ammonia-fuel specs

Japanese shipping firm NYK on Tuesday (9 August) said it has signed a contract with Keihin Dock Co., Ltd., an NYK Group company, to modify tugboat Sakigake to ammonia-fuel specifications. 

Sakigake, a tugboat currently fuelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and operated in Tokyo Bay by NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation, will be converted to operate on ammonia fuel by a target completion year of 2024.

This initiative is part of the development of vessels equipped with a domestically produced ammonia-fueled engine, which was initiated in October 2021 by NYK and IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd. (IPS) as part of the Green Innovation Fund Project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

By using ammonia as a fuel for ships, it will be possible to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during voyages. Therefore, NYK and IPS are proceeding with research and development aiming for early social implementation.

In the development process, there were various design challenges in using ammonia as fuel, but the two companies overcame these challenges without changing the size of the conventional tugboat and received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) in July 2022.

NYK will begin modification in fiscal 2023 with the aim of realising demonstration operations in the port of Yokohama in fiscal 2024.

Outline of Sakigake

Length overall: 37.20 meters
Breadth: 10.20 meters
Moulded depth: 4.40 meters
Gross tonnage: 272 tons
Shipowner: NYK
Flag: Japan

Related: Japan: MOU entered to develop ammonia-fuelled tugboat for Yokohama city

Photo credit: NYK
Published: 16 August, 2022