The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) have announced the signing of a five-year strategic partnership agreement.
This agreement strengthens the centre’s capabilities and efforts to undertake low-carbon solution pilots and trials in order to give clear and precise routes to decarbonisation of the global shipping sector.
Japan is one of the world’s top three shipowners, with Japanese merchant vessels accounting for around 11 per cent of global tonnage.
According to Clarksons Green Transition Team data, Japan leads other countries in alternative-fuel-ready vessel orders, accounting for almost 10 per cent of the worldwide equivalent.
NYK is the first Japanese shipping firm to independently secure an approval-in-principle (AiP) from ClassNK for an ammonia bunkering vessel (ABV) and is on pace to convert Sakigake, an LNG-fueled tugboat, with an ammonia-fueled engine.
READ: NYK, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding obtain approval for ammonia and LCO2 carrier
The resultant ammonia-powered tugboat (A-Tug) is set to go into service in 2024.
Furthermore, NYK is working with partners to produce an oceangoing ammonia-fueled ammonia gas carrier (AFAGC) by 2026.
As a result, NYK was a clear partner in the GCMD-commissioned ammonia bunkering pilot safety study, which concluded in April 2023.
For GCMD’s pilot on developing an assurance framework for drop-in biofuels, NYK trialled VLSFO (B24) on board Lycaste Peace in February 2023, contributing to the successful completion of the second of five supply chains of the full pilot.
GCMD is reportedly developing a robust framework for quality and quantity assurance of drop-in biofuels and GHG accounting as a result of the gathered data from the four other supply chains.
GCMD is also conducting a green cost-benefit analysis of deploying biofuels with NYK and other partners involved in the pilot.
READ: MSC, GCMD collaborate for decarbonisation efforts
Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, said: “We are proud to have NYK, a prominent Japanese shipping line, join us as a strategic partner given its strong commitment to decarbonisation and Japan’s standing as a major maritime nation.
“This strategic partnership agreement with NYK formalises and strengthens our existing relations in working on low-carbon solutions for international shipping.
“We look forward to levelling up the engagement with NYK to further accelerate collective efforts towards shipping’s decarbonisation.”
Takaya Soga, President and CEO of NYK, stated: “We are honoured to be GCMD’s strategic partner, and I am very confident that this partnership will greatly empower our efforts to reduce GHG emissions from the maritime sector.
“Through the partnership, I am looking forward to cooperating with GCMD and all its partners to realise the widespread social implementation of various decarbonisation solutions in our industry.”
