A consortium has received an approval in principle (AiP) for its ammonia-fuelled ammonia bunkering ship from Japanese classification society Class NK.
The consortium — including NYK, Singaporean vessel engineering company Seatrium and other undisclosed firms — obtained the AiP on 18 February, NYK Line said on 25 February. The AiP proved the ship design meets Class NK's safety, technical, and environmental standards.
This marks another step towards implementing ammonia-fuelled vessels. Ammonia's safety risks, including its toxicity, as well as the danger of leaks from piping and tanks are major issues in designing the ship.
The consortium aims to commission the ship by the latter half of 2020s and to operate at the ports in Singapore. The ship will also be assessed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
NYK Line and its partners have not decided where to build the ship. NYK Line declined to disclose ammonia bunkering capacity of the vessel.
Japan's shipping industry is developing alternative fuels to achieve decarbonisation, and ammonia is one of the key potential bunker fuel. NYK Line and its other partners — domestic shipbuilder Nihon Shipyard, engine developer Japan Engine and IHI Power System — also secured an AiP for their 40,000m³ ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier in 2024. The ammonia carrier will be built at domestic shipbuilder Japan Marine United's Ariake shipyard in south Japan's Kumamoto prefecture, which is targeting commissioning in 2026.
