NYK has successfully conducted its first onboard measurement in a demonstration test of a methane oxidation catalyst system designed for marine engines powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). This initiative is in collaboration with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and DAIHATSU INFINEARTH MFG.CO., LTD.
The catalyst system is installed on the LNG bunkering vessel KEYS Azalea, which supplies LNG fuel to LNG-fueled ships. Owned by KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co., Ltd. and managed by Taiheiyo Enkai Kisen Co., Ltd., part of the NYK Group, the vessel is pivotal in this demonstration.
Methane slip, where unburned methane escapes into the atmosphere, poses a significant challenge for decarbonizing maritime transport due to methane’s high global warming potential. The new catalyst system aims to mitigate this by oxidizing methane in exhaust gases from LNG engines. Developed by leveraging the expertise of all partners, the system has shown promising results, achieving over 90% methane oxidation in recent onboard tests.
A full-scale prototype is now installed aboard KEYS Azalea for a one-year trial, focusing on performance verification under real operating conditions in the Kyushu and Seto Inland Sea regions.
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