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NYK-led project to develop ammonia bunkering barge
NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard Co (NSY), ClassNK, and IHI Corp have signed a joint research and development agreement for the commercialisation of an ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB)
In August 2020, NYK Line, Japan Marine United Corp (which has a 49% share of NSY), and ClassNK began a joint R&D project to develop an A-FSRB. However, since the demand for ammonia as fuel is expected to increase further in the future, the parties have concluded a new joint R&D agreement with IHI, an ammonia-related equipment manufacturer.
Specifically, the parties will work on the R&D of the barge, which is equipped with a floating storage and regasification facility for ammonia.
NYK Line will serve as project manager, make the economic evaluation of the project, and work on legal compliance and the barge’s base design. NSY will work on the barge’s hull design and examine the utility equipment and IHI will be in charge of ammonia discharge and handling the vaporisation process. ClassNK will verify the safety measures and develop guidelines.
Ammonia is seen as a viable next-generation fuel that helps significantly cull greenhouse gas emissions and technological development is underway concerning ammonia fuel mixed combustion power generation at coal-fired power plants.
However, challenges to using ammonia in existing thermal power plants include securing land for new onshore facilities such as storage tanks and regasification facilities, and the high investment cost.
The floating storage and regasification barge is an offshore facility that can receive and store ammonia that has been transported via ship as a liquid. Ammonia can be regasified according to demand, and sent to a pipeline onshore.
NYK believes an A-FSRB offers the advantages of shorter construction time and lower costs when compared with land based storage tanks and regasification plants. The parties will promote R&D with the aim of introducing ammonia fuel mixed combustion to coal-fired power plants that domestic electric power companies are currently working on.
NYK is also converting a tugboat operated in Tokyo Bay to ammonia fuel with delivery set for 2024.
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