Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd. (IHI Power Systems) have completed the ammonia-powered tugboat Sakigake in collaboration with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).

This is reportedly the world’s first commercially viable ammonia-fuelled vessel. Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha, an NYK Group firm, will use the vessel for tugboat operations in Tokyo Bay for a three-month trial period.

This vessel was part of a Green Innovation Fund Project launched in October 2021 by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to create vessels powered by locally built ammonia engines.

The predecessor, the same-named LNG-fuelled tugboat, was constructed in August 2015 and was Japan’s first LNG-fuelled vessel.

After eight years of tug duty in Tokyo Bay, the vessel was stationed at the NYK Group’s Keihin Dock Co. Ltd. for conversion into an ammonia-powered vessel.

The main engine and other components were replaced with ammonia-fuelled ones, and sea testing was carried out with ammonia as fuel.

The finished vessel has been named Sakigake, with the hope of being a pioneer of ammonia-fueled vessels in the same way as LNG-fuelled vessels were.

As part of the NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund Project, NYK is working with Japan Engine Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., IHI Power Systems, and ClassNK to develop an ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC). This vessel is expected to be delivered in November 2026.

Recently, NYK signed an agreement on the marine shipment of green ammonia to Japan.