Japan: NYK Prepares to Sail Greener Carrier

A new coal carrier of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), dubbed Soyo, outfitted with the innovative air-lubrication system is about to hit the waters, Sea Trade Asia writes.

The air-lubrication system effectively reduces the frictional resistance between a vessel’s bottom and the seawater by means of bubbles generated by supplying air to the vessel’s bottom.

The vessel represents the world’s first permanent installation of a system using an air-blower. The system was installed on two vessels, Yamato and Yamatai when they were built, and the experiments were conducted during actual sea passage.

Nippon Yusen Kaisha and two NYK Group companies have completed two years of experiments on the air-lubrication systems installed on the two of the group’s module carriers. The results confirmed an average 6 percent reduction in CO2 emissions during actual sea passage, i.e., a 4% reduction in carbon dioxide during deep drafts and about 8% reduction in shallow drafts.

NYK joined forces with Oshima Shipbuilding Co, on development of the vessel, with the aim of addressing the fast pace of climate change.

“The NYK Group will continue to encourage initiatives that address climate change by striving to install this system on other types of vessels,” NYK said.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, July 31, 2012; Image: NYK