Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has received approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK for an ammonia bunkering vessel (ABV) that is currently being researched and developed.
This is the first time in Japan that a shipping company has independently obtained AiP for an ABV from ClassNK.
The news comes as the NYK Group set a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its oceangoing shipping business and is currently developing zero-emission ships that use ammonia, hydrogen, and other marine fuels with a low environmental impact.
The ABV is scheduled to be used for ammonia bunkering.
READ: NYK’s ammonia-fuelled tugboat receives ClassNK classification
NYK’s Project Engineering Team (PET), established in October 2021, oversaw the design project to obtain the AiP from ClassNK.
PET created its own designs with 3D models for more in-depth discussions to about risk assessments of hazardous locations and escape routes during the HAZID (Hazard Identification Study) in the process of obtaining the AiP.
This was the first time a 3D model was used for a partial replacement of 2D drawings in ClassNK’s AiP drawing-approval process, confirmed NYK.
The four cranes are based at the NYK Tokyo Container Terminal (NYTT), and each comes equipped with a downsized diesel engine that reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and diesel exhaust and can be replaced with a hydrogen fuel cell power supply in the future.
