Japan’s NYK Launches First Ammonia-Fueled Tugboat in Tokyo Bay

Japan’s NYK, in collaboration with IHI Power Systems, has successfully converted a tugboat operating in Tokyo Bay to run on ammonia-fueled propulsion, marking the first deployment of a commercial vessel fueled by ammonia. The project, which began four years ago, has been reviewed and the vessel is now classed by ClassNK. The conversion project is based on the 272-ton tugboat Sakigake, originally built in 2015 as Japan’s first LNG-fueled tug, serving as a proof of concept for alternative fuel operations and now taking on the role for ammonia-fueled propulsion. The vessel will undergo a three-month demonstration period in Tokyo Bay under the management of NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha.

The vessel, measuring 122 feet in length, underwent conversion to an ammonia-fueled vessel at NYK Group’s Keihin Dock Co. in October 2023. The main engine and fuel tanks were replaced for ammonia, and sea trials were conducted using ammonia as fuel. Bunkering of the Sakigake, also known as A-Tug, occurred for the first time in Yokohama, Japan, using the truck-to-ship method, marking a significant milestone in the use of ammonia as a marine fuel. This follows similar bunkering operations in Singapore for Fortescue’s converted OSV, the first large ship to be bunkered with ammonia as part of testing and certification by the Singapore authorities.

As part of the Green Innovation Fund Project by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), NYK is also working on the development of vessels equipped with domestically produced ammonia-fueled engines. The company is conducting research and development on an ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier in collaboration with Japan Engine Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co., IHI Power Systems, and ClassNK, with delivery scheduled for November 2026. NYK aims to leverage the knowledge gained from these projects to contribute to the decarbonization of the shipping industry and promote the use of ammonia-fueled vessels.

Source