NYK Line, based in Japan, has announced the completion of its ammonia-fueled tugboat Sakigake. The vessel was completed by NYK, IHI Power Systems, and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai and is billed by NYK as the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel for commercial use. It will be operated by NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha for a three-month commercial trial in Yokohama harbor and Tokyo Bay.
The predecessor vessel, an LNG-fueled tugboat of the same name, was completed in 2015. The conversion has been in development since 2021 with the retrofit taking place late last year.
NYK was recently included in a The Heads of Terms agreement with Sembcorp Industries, Sojitz Corp., and Kyushu Electric Power under which Sembcorp will produce green ammonia using renewable resources while Kyushu will incorporate the green ammonia into its power plants in Japan with the goal of reducing coal consumption. Sojitz will act as a business intermediary while NYK oversees the maritime transportation of the green ammonia (GM Aug. 23, p. 25).