NYK & Partners Complete World’s First Truck-to-ship Bunkering Of Ammonia

NYK Line, in partnership with JERA and Resonac, completed the world’s first truck-to-ship bunkering of ammonia for an ammonia-powered tugboat.

The milestone is a critical step toward commercial ammonia-fueled vessels operating to lower environmental impact.

The historic bunkering occurred on July 17, 2024, at Yokohama Port’s Honmoku Wharf.

NYK’s ammonia-powered tugboat, A-Tug, obtained its fuel via truck-to-ship delivery.

The method uses flexible hoses to connect shore-side tankers to the ship, making it the first time such a fueling process has been used for an ammonia-powered vessel.

The operation was carried out under a fuel supply agreement signed by NYK and JERA in late May 2024, with the support of the Yokohama City Port and Harbour Bureau.

Resonance Corporation produces the fuel ECOANN at their Kawasaki production facility.

ECOANN is partially sourced from recycled plastics, making it one of the most environmentally friendly types of ammonia fuel available.

The fuel will be used for A-Tug’s sea trials, currently conducted at NYK Group’s Keihin Dock Co. Ltd.

Ammonia is known for its potential as a next-generation fuel due to its zero carbon dioxide emissions when combusted, but its toxicity poses safety challenges.

Truck-to-ship Bunkering — Image Credits: NYK

NYK, JERA, Resonance, and other stakeholders held intensive negotiations to develop safe fueling operations and establish a secure transportation and acceptance system for the port region to address these issues.

These efforts ensured the smooth completion of the world’s first ammonia bunkering operation.

The A-Tug, being modified at the Keihin Dock’s Oppama factory, is set to become the world’s first commercially operated ammonia-fueled vessel once completed at the end of August 2024.

The conversion procedure, which began in October 2023, involves replacing the complete engine, including the main engine and fuel tank, with new ammonia-powered machinery.

On February 1, 2024, NYK received the ammonia-powered engine, developed in partnership with IHI Power Systems and ClassNK as part of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund Project.

Shin Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation will operate the A-Tug with JERA continuing to supply fuel ammonia.

The project demonstrates NYK’s commitment to pioneering the use of next-generation fuels in the maritime industry and helping to reduce global environmental impact.

Reference: NYK

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