Japan’s NYK to build biomass-fuelled biomass carrier

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) and its partners plan to explore developing what it described as the world's first biomass-fuelled biomass carrier.

NYK Line, its subsidiary NYK Bulk and Projects Carriers, Japanese firm Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and UK biomass supplier Drax signed an initial agreement on 13 May to jointly study developing a biomass-fuelled biomass carrier, with an aim to build it by the end of 2029. The vessel will be equipped with a pyrolysis gasifier system, burning wood pellets from storage to generate gas for use in a gas-engine power generator. The electricity will be used to move the ship.

NYK Line expects the vessel to be a Handysize bulker with 20,000-45,000t of cargo capacity, but is unsure of the exact capacity and whether the vessel will be expanded. The companies aim to use wood pellets for now, but may examine if other type of wooden biomass can be consumed in the future.

NYK Line expects to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 22pc, compared to conventional marine fuels. It has been a challenge for Handysize bulkers to switch to alternative marine fuels because of their fuel tanks' limited size, so the companies are examining the use of biomass to reduce GHG emission on these ships.

Japanese shipping firms have tried to shift away from conventional marine fuels to achieve decarbonisation, by introducing LNG, LPG, ammonia, batteries and methanol. But a biomass-fuelled ship is unprecedented, said NYK Line. Biomass-fired power generation have been commercialised on land, but companies need further technological development to implement it on vessels.

By Nanami Oki