NYK ammonia-powered tug completes three-month demonstration voyage

Sakigake, the ammonia-powered tug owned by Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), has completed a three-month demonstration voyage, during which the vessel engaged in operations in Tokyo Bay and achieved what NYK said are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of up to 95 per cent.

The vessel was completed by NYK and IHI Power Systems (IPS) on August 23, 2024, in cooperation with ClassNK as part of a project under Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation.

NYK and IPS analysed the ammonia co-firing and GHG reduction rates during vessel operations and confirmed them to consistently exceed 90 per cent and rise to approximately 95 per cent in each of the main engine load ranges.

NYK said the demonstration tests confirmed that ammonia is one of the most viable and most promising options as a next-generation fuel for vessels.

Sakigake will continue to be used for operations in Tokyo Bay.