NIPPON YUSEN Kabushiki shipping line says it has completed the world’s first ever ammonia bunkering for an ammonia fuelled tugboat.
The Japanese company announced yesterday (17 July) that it successfully supplied fuel ammonia to an NYK-owned ammonia tugboat (A-tug), Sakigake, at the port of Yokohama.
NYK says Sakigake would become the world’s first commercial ammonia-fuelled vessel upon completion of modifications at the end of August.
The ammonia replenishment was conducted at Yokohama’s Honmoku Wharf under a fuel supply agreement between NYK and JERA using the truck-to-ship method, which involves connecting flexible hoses from a shore-side tanker truck to the vessel.
A type of ammonia called ECOANN was supplied, produced by Resonac Corporation at the company’s Kawasaki plant partially using recycled plastics as a raw material.
NYK says ECOANN is one of the most environmentally friendly types of fuel ammonia and will be used for the sea trials of Sakigake, which is undergoing modification at the NYK Group’s Keihin Dock.
Due to the toxic nature of ammonia, appropriate safety discussions were held in the lead up to the fuelling, including discussions with JERA and Resonac. NYK says the operation was completed safely and smoothly.
The company says it intends to continue to contribute to reducing environmental impacts in the shipping industry by promoting the use of next-generation fuels, including as a pioneer for the use of ammonia in shipping.
Currently undergoing modifications, Sakigake, which formerly ran on liquefied natural gas, was slated for conversion to ammonia back in 2022. Modification will involve replacing the entire LNG engine with an ammonia engine.
Sakigake completed its final LNG bunkering in July 2023.
