Japan’s First Ammonia-Fuelled Car Carriers Set to Launch
Seven Japanese companies have agreed to build what they call the world’s first commercial supply chain for ammonia as ship fuel, together with four ammonia-fuelled car carriers. The supply hub will be at Hekinan, a port city in Aichi Prefecture near Nagoya in central Japan.
The partners are NYK, “K” Line, energy company JERA, and shipbuilders Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Nihon Shipyard and Kyokuyo Shipyard. The fuel will be handled at JERA’s terminal beside its Hekinan power station in the Chubu region.
JERA will buy green ammonia made with renewable power, partly from overseas suppliers including India. Kyokuyo Shipyard will build a dedicated ammonia bunkering vessel, to be owned and run by NYK or its subsidiary, for ship-to-ship fuel transfers. NYK and “K” Line will also set up a joint fuel sales company.
Each of the two shipping lines will take two car carriers, all due for completion in 2030. They will be Japan’s first ammonia-fuelled car carriers, with dual-fuel engines and tanks big enough to cross the Pacific on ammonia alone. Shin Kurushima will lead the basic design, with Imabari and Nihon Shipyard sharing construction.
Ammonia is toxic and corrosive, so safety is central to the plan. The car carriers will use several layers of protection for leak prevention, leak detection and neutralising any release. The bunkering vessel will carry advanced leak-prevention equipment. The companies point to their existing experience with ammonia and LNG cargoes.
Ammonia-fuelled ships are coming within a few years. Crews will need proper training in toxic fuel handling, gas detection and emergency response before they sail on them.
