Japan’s NYK continues to develop LNG as fuel for ships

Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) said it is continuing promotion and development of LNG as fuel for ships to reduce environmental footprint.

NYK said in a statement on Monday it has been “conducting technical research and development on the use of LNG to fuel ships in order to meet the tightened regulations on CO2 emission from vessels”.

According to NYK, Japan’s first LNG-powered tugboat, Sakigake, which was delivered in August 2015, recently received an environmental award for “lowering CO2 emissions”.

NYK, Wing Maritime Service Corporation, and Keihin Dock have jointly received the Technological Development Award at the 17th annual Logistics Environment Awards sponsored by the Japan Federation of Freight Industries (JFFI), NYK said in the statement.

Sakigake, which is equipped with dual-fuel engines that can use either LNG or diesel oil, was “highly evaluated by the JFFI because LNG fuel has much less of an environmental impact compared with heavy fuel oil,” the shipping giant that is also one of the world’s largest operators of LNG carriers, said.

NYK has been implementing a number of solutions under its medium-term management plan called “More Than Shipping 2018”, including the construction of an LNG-fueled car carrier and an LNG bunkering vessel to be based at the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The shipping company has also teamed with French Engie and the Mitsubishi Corporation to develop the LNG bunkering business, and is a part of a committee which is studying the possibility of establishing LNG bunkering stations in Japan.

LNG World News Staff