NYK to build four LNG-fuelled PCTCs

These vessels will feature WinGD’s X-DF2.0 iCER as the main engine. According to NYK Line, the WinGD engine consumes less gas and reduces greenhouse gases by cutting methane emissions from exhaust gas by approximately 50%. The four PCTCs will be assigned to transport vehicles to and from Europe and the Middle East.

Further, the vessels will be equipped with battery hybrid technology, which is expected to improve fuel efficiency by mitigating main engine and electrical generator load fluctuations through the support of batteries.

NYK Line said using LNG fuel, together with these new technologies and other developments such as hull modification, will contribute to a reduction of SOx emissions by 99% compared to ships using heavy fuel oil while NOx emissions will be cut by 96%, and CO₂ emissions by approximately 40% or more (per unit of transportation).

The shipbuilding contract for these four vessels is part of NYK Line’s plan to replace current vessels with around 40 newbuild LNG-fuelled PCTCs over the next decade to achieve the company’s environment management target, which is to reduce CO₂ emissions per tonne-kilometre of transport by 50% by 2050.

This month NYK announced its intent to further integrate environmental, social and corporate governance into the company’s management strategy and promote activities that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by providing cleaner transportation services, including introducing next-generation eco-friendly ships within the PCTC fleet. The Line aims to further advance to zero-emissions vessels utilising low-emission marine fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia from around the mid-2030s.

The company is part of a consortium looking to develop, construct and test one of the world’s first ammonia-powered tugboats. NYK Line has stated that it will research and design the hull and fuel supply system and verify operational modes, based on its experience with the 2015-built Sakigake.