After claiming top honours at the 2022 International Tug & Salvage (ITS) Awards, IHI Power Systems continues to develop four-stroke engines for combusting alternative green fuels

IHI Power Systems is preparing the first dual-fuel engines in Japan, to retrofit onto a tugboat for ammonia-fuelled propulsion, which the company will present at ITS Convention 2024.

The Japanese engineering group is working in collaboration with NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard Co, Japan Engine Corp and ClassNK on the ammonia-fuelled A-Tug, ready to deploy in 2024.

Keihin Dock Co is responsible for converting the ammonia-fuelled A-Tug with Niigata four-stroke dual-fuel engines and Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha will be responsible for its operation and management.

Before installing these engines in June 2024, IHI Power Systems conducted operational tests at its Ota plant in the Gunma Prefecture.

IHI Power Systems deputy director for the marine power system business division Toru Motoda will explain the latest developments and the thorough engine testing programme during his presentation at ITS 2024.

Its latest trials included testing exhaust gas aftertreatment devices and fuel supply systems, confirming emissions of di-nitrogen monoxide, which has a greenhouse effect about 300 times greater than CO2, and unburnt ammonia, are virtually zero.

Development, manufacture and shop trials of the Niigata four-stroke, ammonia-fuelled engines have followed, ready for installation.

In April 2023, the partners completed a land-based test for the stable combustion of fuel ammonia having an 80% co-firing ratio. Tests were conducted on exhaust gas aftertreatment devices and fuel supply systems.

Since then, IHI Power Systems has achieved a 95%+ ammonia fuel-mixture ratio with a new engine, said Mr Motoda. He adds the integration testing with exhaust treatment and fuel systems was successful “confirming near-zero nitrous oxide and unburnt ammonia emissions.”

“We verified there were no ammonia leakages during and after operations,” he adds. “Installation remains scheduled for mid 2024."

In parallel, project partners have finalised the hull and topsides design and engineering for converting an existing tug into an A-Tug, and are working towards overcoming regulatory clearances and writing operational manuals.

Sakigake will be converted into A-Tug with installation of IHI's dual-fuel ammonia-diesel engines (source: IHI Power Systems)

ITS Awards 2024 winners will be announced during the gala dinner at the International Tug & Salvage Convention, Exhibition & Awards. This memorable event saw over 500 industry members come together to recognise industry achievement and connect with colleagues in 2022.

Use this link to nominate any individuals, vessels or organisations that have stood out for driving progress for ITS 2024 Awards, which include categories for ports and harbours, tug owners, innovations, safety, salvage, lifetime achievement and tug of the year. #ITS2024

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IHI Power Systems tests an ammonia-fuelled, four-stroke engine at its Oto plant in Japan (source: IHI/NYK)