Japan's K-Line gets approval for ammonia fuelled bulk carrier

Japanese shipping company K-Line on November 28 announced today that it had obtained approval in principle (AiP) from the classification society ClassNK for the design of an ammonia-fuelled ship. It has worked with Itochu Corporation, Nihon Shipyard, Mitsui E&S Machinery, and NS United Kaiun Kaisha on the project.

The 200,000 dwt class bulk carrier was developed by Nihon Shipyard as part of the ‘Integrated Project for the Development and Social Implementation of Ammonia Fuelled Ships’ which was jointly adopted by Japanese government’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO).

“At this time, there are no international guidelines for the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, so K-Line and partners are looking toward obtaining alternative design approval for the shipbuilding of the vessel,” the company said.

Alternative design approval is to prove that the ship is as safe as a ship built in accordance with existing international regulations and to obtain approval from the competent authorities when the ship is designed without international guidelines.

K Line and partners will proceed with the development of the vessel based on the basic design for which the AiP has been obtained, and aims to take delivery of the ship in 2026.