NYK: Ammonia-fueled tug helps create world's 'first' environmental value

Japan-based Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha (SNK), a NYK Group company, has obtained third-party certification for the environmental value representing the quantified greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduced through ammonia-fueled tugboat Sakigake‘s towage services.

This certified environmental value can be allocated to purchasers through the book & claim method and is expected to contribute to the reduction of Scope 3 emissions by transportation service users in the future.

As explained, this is “the world’s first instance” that environmental value derived through the operation of an ammonia-fueled vessel has received third-party validation.

This vessel was a Green Innovation Fund Project initiated in October 2021 under Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to develop vessels equipped with domestically produced ammonia-fueled engines. Sakigake is believed to be the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel developed for commercial use.

The vessel is fueled by low-environmental-impact ammonia “ECOANN” manufactured by Resonac Corporation and provided by JERA. Since its completion in August 2024, Sakigake has been providing safe and low-carbon tugboat services in Yokohama port.