NYK Line has agreed to take part in developing Japan’s first bunkering boom for ammonia.
Under a basic agreement signed 16 August, NYK will work with TB Global Technologies, a Japanese manufacturer of cargo handling equipment for crude oil, LNG and other liquids.
NYK and TBG said they intend to develop a bunkering boom that can supply “highly toxic” ammonia to ships without the fuel leaking.
NYK will share data with TBG that is related to the development of its ammonia bunkering vessel, which received approval in principle from ClassNK in September last year.
The shipping line also intends to share knowledge gained from Japane’s first LNG bunkering vessel Kaguya, which is operated by NYK affiliate Central KLG Marine Fuel Japan.
“A bunkering boom is a device consisting of rigid pipes and hoses that connect a bunkering vessel to the other vessel to supply fuel,” NYK said.
“It is highly durable because it is made of rigid pipe, and its swivel joints allow it to change direction freely, making it easy to operate.
“In this joint development, the two companies will employ TBG’s technology to prevent the liquid inside from leaking out when the bunkering boom is emergently released from a ship due to a natural disaster, thereby tackling the biggest challenge in ammonia fuel supply, [which is] preventing leakage.”
NYK noted ammonia is excepted to contribute to maritime decarbonisation because it does not emit carbon emissions when burned.
