Japanese shipowner NYK said it will be ready to supply the first ammonia fuel from a lorry to its ammonia-fuelled tugboat, A-tug, in the port of Yokohama at the end of May, and the vessel will be commissioned by June
This will be the world’s first case of ammonia fuel replenishment to a ship using the truck-to-ship method, and is seen as a major step towards using ammonia fuel on vessels operating around Japanese harbours and coastal waters to decarbonise port operations and services.
It will be greatly anticipated in the tug and towage sector as ammonia is a potential non-carbon fuel to cut greenhouse gases and the environmental footprint of the maritime industry.
Marine fuel ammonia supplier JERA will provide this fuel parcel, and many others in the future, for NYK group subsidiary Shin Nippon Kaiyosha’s A-tug.
In December 2023, JERA, chemicals manufacturer Resonac, and NYK signed an agreement to jointly study the supply of ammonia fuel to ships.
They have been working together to establish safe operation methods, build a system for transporting and receiving ammonia in port areas, and lobby relevant authorities to formulate various rules for the supply.
These partners identified a safe and secure point of supplying ammonia fuel to vessels and NYK decided to supply fuel from a tank lorry at the end of May.
Once on board, ammonia will be combusted in two IHI Power Systems Niigata 28ADF dual-fuel, four-stroke engines. This 37-m, ClassNK-classed tug will be operated in Tokyo Bay from June.
IHI Power Systems deputy director for the marine power system business division, Toru Motoda will explain the technology and technical complexities of developing, testing and installing dual-fuel ammonia engines for this project at Riviera Maritime Media’s International Tug & Salvage Convention, in Dubai, 21-23 May 2024.
Riviera Maritime Media’s Marine lubricants and additives for smooth operation of ammonia fuelled engines webinar offers an in-depth exploration of this critical topic.
This free webinar is a key part of our Marine Lubricants Webinar Week, a valuable opportunity to gain insights from industry experts, kicking off on May 13th.
The week-long series provides a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders as they discuss marine lubricants and additives for smooth operation of ammonia-fuelled engines, specialised lubricants that can withstand dual-fuel engines’ unique operating requirements, and mastering cylinder lubrication in the era of low-sulphur fuels.
To learn more about the series and register for FREE, click here.
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.