NYK gets approval for ammonia bunkering vessel

NYK has received approval in principle (AiP) from the Japanese classification society ClassNK for an ammonia bunkering vessel (ABV) that is currently being developed, the shipping company said on September 28.

The NYK Group has set a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 to reduce GHG emissions in its oceangoing shipping business and is developing zero-emission ships that use ammonia, hydrogen, and other marine fuels having a low environmental impact.

The ABV that received the AiP is scheduled to be used for ammonia bunkering, which is expected to become more common in the late 2020s, NYK said.

NYK stated that in devising the concept for the ABV, it has utilised knowledge gained from the LNG fuel supply system of Japan's first LNG-fueled car carrier, which the company has been operating since October 2020, and Japan's first LNG bunkering vessel, which is operated by an affiliate Central LNG Marine Fuel Japan Corporation.