NYK Converts Japan’s First LNG-Powered Tug to Run on Ammonia

Japanese shipowner NYK has replaced the LNG dual-fuel engine of Japan’s first LNG-powered tug with an ammonia-fueled engine for testing. The tug, named Sakigake, was the first LNG-fueled vessel of its kind in Japan and was constructed by NYK’s Keihin Dock Co. with support from the Japanese government. The conversion involves removing the existing LNG-powered main engine and installing a new ammonia-powered engine, supplied by IHI Power Systems. The tug is expected to return to service in June.

IHI Power Systems’ Ota Plant began testing the 280mm-bore, four-stroke ammonia engine in April 2023. The engine is designed to run on a 20 percent diesel and 80 percent ammonia mixture, with exhaust aftertreatment to eliminate unwanted nitrogen-based emissions. Additionally, IHI is working on adapting the technology to a 250mm-bore engine for use on an auxiliary engine for an ammonia-fueled carrier, which is set for delivery in 2026. The company is also developing a range of engines powered by ammonia, from diesel-cycle internal combustion engines to gas turbines for powerplant applications.

Japan is expected to draw down 20 million tonnes of green ammonia per year for consumption in its coal-fired powerplants in the coming years, creating significant demand for the green hydrogen-derived fuel from a growing global market.

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