Japanese shipping group NYK has commenced conversion of the LNG-fuelled tugboat ‘Sakigake’ to ammonia fuel at the Oppama factory of Keihin Dock Co to achieve further reductions in GHG emissions.
Sakigake, now known as A-tug, is operated in Tokyo Bay by the NYK Group company Shin-Nihon Kaiyosha. The modification involves the development of vessels equipped with a domestically produced ammonia-fuelled engine through an effort that was initiated in October 2021 by NYK, Japan Engine Corporation, IHI Power Systems and Nihon Shipyard as part of the Green Innovation Fund Project of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
To replace the entire engine, including the main engine and fuel tank, the engine room will be cut to remove the existing LNG-fuelled equipment and install the new ammonia-fuelled machinery. The new engine has been tested at IHI Power Systems’ Ota Plant to confirm virtually zero emissions from the unburned ammonia and the nitrous oxide (N2O), which has a greenhouse effect about 300 times greater than CO2.
A-tug is scheduled for delivery in June 2024. The vessel will continue to be operated by Shin-Nihon Kaiyosha to verify its decarbonisation effect and operational safety as what is believed to be the world’s first ammonia-fuelled vessel.
