Download PDF version

NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY), ClassNK, and IHI Corporation (IHI) signed a joint research and development agreement for the commercialisation of an ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB). Specifically, the parties will work on the R&D of the world's first barge equipped with a floating storage and regasification facility for ammonia.

Since ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted, it is expected to be a next-generation fuel that contributes to global warming countermeasures.

Combustion power generation

In Japan, technological development is underway for ammonia fuel mixed combustion power generation at coal-fired power plants as an innovative next-generation thermal power generation technology that contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions.

An A-FSRB is an offshore floating facility that can receive and store ammonia

On the other hand, when using ammonia in existing thermal power plants, there are issues such as the problem of securing land for new onshore facilities including storage tanks and regasification facilities, and the large initial investment cost. An A-FSRB is an offshore floating facility that can receive and store ammonia that has been transported via ship as a liquid, warm and regasify ammonia according to demand, and then send it to a pipeline onshore.

Shorter construction time

An A-FSRB offers the advantages of shorter construction time and lower costs in comparison to the construction of onshore storage tanks and regasification plants. In fact, the A-FSRB is expected to speed up the adoption of ammonia fuel and contribute to its wider use as a lower-environmental-impact next-generation fuel.

In August 2020, NYK Line, Japan Marine United Corporation (which has a 49% share of NSY), and ClassNK started joint R&D of an A-FSRB. However, since the demand for fuel ammonia is expected to increase further in the future, the three parties have concluded a new joint R&D agreement with IHI, an ammonia-related equipment manufacturer.

Download PDF version Download PDF version

In case you missed it

Strategies to achieve FuelEU Maritime compliance
Strategies to achieve FuelEU Maritime compliance

FuelEU Maritime came into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. It is part of the European Union’s Fit for 55 package and applies to commercial vessels of 5000GT (gross tonnage) and over u...

VIKING sea trials prove LifeCraft™ resilience
VIKING sea trials prove LifeCraft™ resilience

Sea trials are performed in northern waters – typically at depths of 200-300 metres off the coasts of Norway, the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, and...

ClassNK ZETA enhances FuelEU Maritime Tools
ClassNK ZETA enhances FuelEU Maritime Tools

ClassNK has released new features related to FuelEU Maritime and EU-ETS for its GHG emissions management tool, ‘ClassNK ZETA’. Additionally, with the integration with N...

vfd