Nippon Yusen and 6 other companies announced that they will jointly develop ammonia-fuelled vessels and build a marine-fuel supply chain. They plan to build 4 car carriers by the fiscal year ending March 2030 and advance decarbonisation by developing a domestic supply chain.
Nippon Yusen, Kawasaki Kisen, Imabari Shipbuilding, Nihon Shipyard, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Asahi Shipbuilding and JERA announced on 27 October that they will work on building ammonia-fuelled vessels and developing a marine-fuel supply chain. As part of their decarbonisation efforts, they will promote the introduction of vessels powered by green ammonia derived from renewable energy and strengthen cooperation among major Japanese companies.
The centrepiece of the project is a plan to build 4 car carriers by the fiscal year ending March 2030. The companies will develop procurement and export terminals for green ammonia, establish a supply system and develop an operating framework, while promoting fuel diversification and safety measures for ships.
Shin Kurushima Dockyard will handle the basic design of the 4 vessels, with design work prioritising safety measures. Because ammonia is toxic and has limited adoption to date, the company presented a design policy aimed at improving implementation feasibility as international rules are developed.
The participating companies normally compete in global markets, but will strengthen their cooperation as part of efforts to support the common goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.