NYK Line has become the latest shipowner to agree to work with the Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD).
The Tokyo-based shipowner has agreed to a five-year strategic partnership agreement with the Professor Lynn Loo-led outfit.
“This significant partnership further boosts the centre’s capacity and efforts to conduct pilots and trials of low-carbon solutions to provide clear and specific pathways to the decarbonisation of the global shipping industry,” the GCMD said.
Japan leads other nations in alternative-fuel-ready vessel orders, constituting about 10% of the global equivalent, according to data from Clarksons.
“As the largest shipowner in Japan, NYK is a forward-leaning global shipping company that carries a progressive outlook on decarbonisation and undertakes a whole of value chain approach, bringing together the regulatory authorities in Japan as well as key stakeholders in the private sector to work collaboratively to decarbonise shipping,” GCMD said.
NYK Line is reportedly the first shipping company in Japan to independently obtain an approval-in principle (AiP) for an ammonia bunkering vessel (ABV) from ClassNK and is on track to retrofit Sakigake, an LNG-fuelled tugboat, with an ammonia-fuelled engine for operation by 2024.
In addition, NYK Line is making efforts with partner companies to deliver an oceangoing ammonia-fueled ammonia gas carrier (AFAGC) by 2026.
“NYK Line was therefore a natural partner in the GCMD-commissioned ammonia bunkering pilot safety study that was completed in April,” said the GCMD.
“As one of 22 study partners, NYK Line contributed significantly to the safety study by sharing the learnings from its experience with ammonia.
“For GCMD’s pilot on developing an assurance framework for drop-in biofuels, NYK trialled VLSFO (B24) on board the 78,954-cbm VLGC Lycaste Peace (built 2003) in February 2023, contributing to the successful completion of the second of five supply chains of the full pilot,” GCMD added.
“This strategic partnership agreement with NYK Line formalises and strengthens our existing relations in working on low-carbon solutions for international shipping,” said Professor Loo.
NYK Line chief executive Takaya Soga said the strategic partnership will greatly empower the shipowner’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions from the maritime sector.
Established in August 2021, the GCMD’s other strategic partners include the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), BHP, BW Group, Eastern Pacific Shipping, Foundation Det Norske Veritas, Ocean Network Express, Seatrium, bp and Hapag-Lloyd.
Beyond the strategic partners, GCMD has brought on board 14 partners that engage at the centre level, in addition to more than 80 partners that engage at the project level.
