Vessel operator Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), shipbuilder Japan Marine United (JMU), and classification society ClassNK have entered into a joint research and development (R&D) agreement for the development of an ammonia gas carrier that would also use ammonia as its main fuel, in addition to an ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (FSRB).
JMU will lead the R&D effort for both vessels while NYK Line will ensure legal compliance as well as evaluate the associated costs and operation methods.
This joint R&D aims not only to utilise ammonia as a marine fuel but also to establish methods for the mass transportation and supply of ammonia and to become a solution for introducing a mixed combustion of ammonia into coal-fired power stations operated by electric power companies in Japan.