NYK orders four LNG-fueled capesize bulk carriers

January 19 2022 Print This Article

NYK has decided to order four new LNG-fueled capesize bulk carriers — two from Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY) and one each from Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Namura) and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS), 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 oceangoing businesses by 2050. The four ships will emit approximately no sulfur oxides (SOx), 85% less NOx, and 40% less carbon dioxide (CO2) compared to existing conventional heavy oil-fueled vessels. Additionally, the vessels will be compliant with the IMO’s NOx (nitrogen oxide) emission regulations (Tier III).

NYK is positioning LNG fuel as a bridge solution until future zero emission ships can be realized and has already decided to build the world's first LNG-fueled large coal carrier in 2019 and its first LNG-fueled capesize bulk carrier in 2021.

Going forward, they will continuously and gradually proceed our planned introduction of LNG-fueled vessels until the realization of zero-emission vessels that use marine fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, which have an even lower environmental impact.