NYK is participating in a joint study of a system designed to reduce the environmental impacts of marine transport using organic substances generated on vessels.
The shipping line signed a memorandum of understanding with energy companies Astomos Energy and Sustainable Energy, which will also take part in the study.
Astomos Energy is a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distributor, and Sustainable Energy is a company which converts unused resources into energy.
The goal of the study is to develop an organic fuel conversion business by installing Sustainable Energy’s ISOP system (ISOP) onboard ships.
ISOP is a new organic waste treatment system that converts waste into energy. On ships, it will generate biofuel from combustible garbage and other materials to contribute to decarbonisation.
“Waste generated on board is stored on the ship’s deck and discharged at ports of call, where it is then collected,” NYK said.
“Through the process of transport and incineration of the waste, carbon dioxide is generated. For example, approximately 5000 litres of waste, mainly plastic dust, is generated from a large LPG carrier (VLGC) for every 45-day voyage between Japan and the Middle East.”
NYK said ISOP can reduce carbon emissions from the entire organic waste treatment process by converting the bio-components of the waste into fuel.
“By installing ISOPs on oceangoing vessels, CO2 emissions from marine transportation as a whole are expected to be reduced by utilising the treated bio-components as energy,” NYK said.
According to the shipping line, the ISOP system will enable more onboard storage space to be made available through onboard processing of organic materials generated during the voyage.
As such, NYK said it expects the ISOP system to improve sanitary conditions in crew working environments.
The three companies will aim to complete the onboard demonstration test and implementation of ISOP on a vessel by around 2025.
