Japanese group to supply ammonia-powered gas carrier by 2026

NYK has ordered a 40,000 cu m ammonia carrier, set to be delivered in November 2026 by Japan Marine United Corporation’s Ariake Shipyard. The vessel will feature an ammonia dual-fuel two-stroke engine produced by Japan Engine Corporation, along with an ammonia dual-fuel four-stroke engine produced by IHI Power Systems. The main engine will be able to run on a fuel mix up to 95% ammonia, while the auxiliary engine will use a mix of 80% or more, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions reductions of up to 80%.

The order is the result of contracts between NYK, Japan Engine Corporation, IHI Power Systems, and Nihon Shipyard, selected by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for its Green Innovation Fund Project. This consortium has been working on creating and commercializing vessels that use Japanese-built ammonia-fueled engines, overcoming challenges such as ammonia’s flame retardancy, nitrous oxide emissions, and ammonia toxicity. After completion, the consortium will continue to operate the vessel for demonstration purposes to confirm its performance and provide feedback for further improvements.

The group aims to build a development cycle as a “first mover” in developing ammonia-fueled vessels, with a focus on environmental friendliness and practicality of operation. This initiative is part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable shipping practices.

Source .