Japanese shipping company NYK has decided to order four new LNG-fuelled capesize bulk carriers; two from Nihon Shipyard and one each from Namura Shipbuilding and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, the latter of which is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited (CSSC).
The vessels are scheduled to be delivered sequentially from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025. These ship orders are part of a capesize bulk carrier fleet development aimed at achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the NYK Group’s ocean-going businesses by 2050. The four ships will emit near-zero SOx, 85% less NOx, and 40% less CO2 compared to existing conventional heavy oil-fuelled vessels. Additionally, the vessels will be compliant with the IMO Tier III NOx regulations.
NYK is positioning LNG fuel as a bridge solution until future zero emission ships can be realised. In 2019 the company ordered the world’s first LNG-fuelled large coal carrier, followed in 2021 by its first LNG-fuelled capesize bulk carrier.
NYK plans to continuously and gradually introduce LNG-fuelled vessels until zero-emission vessels that use marine fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, which have an even lower environmental impact, appear.
