NYK Line, partners obtain approval for ammonia FSRB

Japanese shipping company NYK Line, Nippon Shipyard and IHI Corp. have received approval in principle (AiP) from the classification society ClassNK for an ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB), NYK Line said on January 5.

A-FSRB is an offshore floating facility that can receive and store ammonia transported as a liquid from the production area on the sea, heat and regasify the ammonia according to demand, and send it to the pipeline on land. 

“Compared to building an ammonia storage base on land, it can be introduced at a lower cost and in a shorter period of time. Utilising the A-FSRB as an alternative to onshore facilities is expected to contribute to the early and stable supply of fuel ammonia,” NYK Line said.

The three companies and ClassNK identified comprehensive risks for various contingencies and worked to identify technical issues from the initial study stage, the company said, adding this is the world's first acquisition of AiP for A-FSRB.

Last year, NYK and IHI obtained AiP from ClassNK for an ammonia-fuelled tugboat currently being jointly researched and developed.