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日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Oct 28, 2026 (Wed)

Green Shipping: Seven-Party Japanese Alliance to Launch Ammonia-Powered Car Carriers in 2030

(From left) Katsuhiko Ochi, Chairman of Kyokuyo Shipyard; Hisahide Okuda, President of JERA; Soga; Igarashi; Mori; Higaki; and Kiyoshi Higaki, President of Nihon Shipyard

　On October 27, seven companies—NYK, “K”Line, JERA, Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, K ・・・続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80On+October+27%2C+seven+companies%E2%80%94NYK%2C+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine%2C+JERA%2C+Imabari+Shipbuilding%2C+Shin+Kurushima+Dockyard%2C+Kyokuyo+Shipyard+and+Nihon+Shipyard%E2%80%94announced+that+they+would+undertake+a+project+to+establish+a+marine+ammonia+fuel+supply+chain+for+car+carriers+in+the+Chubu+region.+Four+ammonia-fueled+car+carriers+and+one+ammonia+bunkering+vessel+will+be+built%2C+with+entry+into+service+scheduled+for+2030.+JERA+will+procure+green+ammonia+from+India+and+other+countries+and+develop+a+fuel+shipment+terminal+adjacent+to+the+Hekinan+Thermal+Power+Station+in+Aichi+Prefecture%2C+while+NYK+Line+and+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+will+provide+ship-to-ship+%28STS%29+bunkering%2C+primarily+at+the+ports+of+Nagoya+and+Mikawa.+They+will+transcend+competitive+boundaries+and+work+together+in+an+all-Japan+effort+to+drive+the+decarbonization+of+international+shipping.+%3Cbr%3E%28Summary+of+remarks+on+page+2%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThis+will+be+an+important+step+in+moving+ammonia%E2%80%99s+potential+from+demonstration+to+real-world+deployment.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80NYK+President+Takaya+Soga+described+the+project%E2%80%99s+main+aim+in+those+terms+at+a+press+conference+held+in+Tokyo+on+October+27.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+plan+is+Japan%E2%80%99s+first+comprehensive+project+to+develop+an+integrated+system+encompassing+green+ammonia+procurement%2C+shipping+terminal+development%2C+bunkering+vessel+construction%2C+ship-to-ship+%28STS%29+bunkering+and+car+carrier+operations.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+President+Takenori+Igarashi+said%2C+%E2%80%9CAdvancing+this+project+as+an+all-Japan+effort+will+be+a+very+important+step+for+Japan.+Unless+ammonia+use+becomes+more+widespread%2C+production+volumes+will+not+increase+and+costs+will+not+fall.+The+key+is+how+effectively+we+can+build+partnerships+and+expand+our+network.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Imabari+Shipbuilding+President+Yukito+Higaki+emphasized+the+significance+of+the+seven-company+alliance%2C+saying%2C+%E2%80%9CWhat+I+find+particularly+meaningful+is+that+these+companies%2C+which+lead+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry%2C+have+joined+forces+across+competitive+boundaries+with+an+eye+to+the+future+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+shipping+and+shipbuilding+industries.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Shin+Kurushima+Dockyard+President+Katsushi+Mori+also+emphasized%2C+%E2%80%9CAlthough+we+normally+compete+with+Imabari+Shipbuilding+and+Japan+Shipyard+in+the+global+market%2C+spurring+one+another+to+improve%2C+this+time+we+have+chosen+the+path+of+%E2%80%98co-creation%2C%E2%80%99+joining+forces+toward+the+common+goal+of+making+this+vessel+a+reality.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Toyota+Also+Has+High+Expectations+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80NYK+will+have+two+ammonia-fueled+car+carriers+built+at+Shin+Kurushima+Dockyard%2C+while+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+will+have+two+built+at+Imabari+Shipbuilding.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+vessels+will+have+sufficient+fuel+tank+capacity+to+sail+trans-Pacific+routes+using+ammonia+fuel+alone+and+are+scheduled+to+transport+finished+vehicles+for+customers+including+Toyota+Motor+Corporation.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+shippers+also+have+high+expectations.+Automakers+are+paying+close+attention+not+only+to+CO2+%28carbon+dioxide%29+emissions+from+manufacturing+at+their+plants%2C+but+also+to+reducing+Scope+3+CO2+emissions+generated+during+the+transportation+of+exports.+This+project+can+contribute+to+those+reductions%2C%E2%80%9D+said+Soga.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Shin+Kurushima+Dockyard+is+responsible+for+the+basic+design+of+the+car+carriers.+To+ensure+the+safe+use+of+ammonia%2C+which+is+toxic+and+corrosive%2C+the+vessels+will+feature+a+hull+design+incorporating+multiple+layers+of+safety+measures%2C+including+leak+prevention%2C+leak+detection%2C+and+ammonia+abatement+in+the+event+of+a+leak.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Japan+Marine+United%2C+part+of+the+Imabari+Shipbuilding+Group%2C+is+currently+building+an+ammonia-fueled+medium+gas+carrier+for+NYK.+Imabari+Shipbuilding+is+also+studying+an+ammonia-fueled+Newcastlemax+bulk+carrier+and+pursuing+negotiations+toward+a+contract.+President+Higaki+expressed+confidence%2C+saying%2C+%E2%80%9CI+believe+there+are+no+major+barriers+to+building+ammonia-fueled+vessels.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80NYK+President+Soga+explains%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+technology+for+building+ammonia-fueled+vessels+is+fairly+well+established%2C+and+the+next+challenges+are+to+build+a+global+supply+network+and+train+seafarers+capable+of+handling+ammonia+fuel.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+ammonia+bunkering+vessel+will+be+built+by+Kyokuyo+Shipyard%2C+which+has+an+extensive+track+record+in+specialized+vessels%2C+and+will+be+owned+and+operated+by+the+NYK+Group.+The+vessel+will+be+chartered+by+a+fuel+sales+joint+venture+to+be+established+with+equal+investment+from+NYK+and+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Commercialization+timing+is+key+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%3Cb%3EAmmonia%3C%2Fb%3E+is+a+next-generation+zero-emission+fuel+that+emits+no+CO2+when+burned+and+can+be+stored+and+transported+in+liquid+form.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80NYK+and+%E2%80%9CK%E2%80%9DLine+are+working+to+transition+to+next-generation+fuels+with+the+goal+of+achieving+net-zero+emissions+by+2050.+To+date%2C+they+have+focused+on+introducing+LNG-fueled+PCTCs%2C+which+can+reduce+CO2+emissions+by+20%E2%80%9330%25+compared+with+heavy+fuel+oil.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Regarding+the+future+fuel+transition+for+its+operating+fleet%2C+NYK+President+Soga+explained%2C+%E2%80%9COnce+ammonia-fueled+vessels+have+been+put+into+practical+use+and+commercialized+and+can+be+mass-produced%2C+we+intend+to+replace+more+and+more+of+our+vessels+with+them.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80He+added%2C+%E2%80%9CWe+want+to+closely+monitor+when+in+the+2030s+full-scale+commercialization+of+ammonia+fuel+will+become+a+reality.+In+the+meantime%2C+we+will+use+LNG-fueled+vessels+as+a+bridging+solution%2C%E2%80%9D+outlining+his+approach.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+A+way+forward+amid+competition+with+China+and+South+Korea+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Imabari+Shipbuilding+President+Higaki+hopes+to+make+this+project+a+driving+force+in+strengthening+the+international+competitiveness+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+shipbuilding+industry.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Higaki+said%2C+%E2%80%9CChinese+and+South+Korean+shipbuilders+have+an+increasingly+strong+presence+in+the+global+shipbuilding+market%2C+and+the+environment+surrounding+Japan%E2%80%99s+shipbuilding+industry+is+becoming+ever+more+challenging.+We+cannot+make+our+presence+felt+in+global+competition+by+relying+solely+on+the+high+quality+and+technological+capabilities+we+have+developed+over+the+years%2C%E2%80%9D+underscoring+his+sense+of+urgency.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80As+a+way+forward%2C+he+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+combined+capabilities+of+Japan%E2%80%99s+maritime+industry%2C+encompassing+shipping%2C+shipbuilding+and+marine+equipment%2C+are+a+major+strength+in+competing+globally.+That+is+precisely+why+it+is+important+to+bring+together+each+company%E2%80%99s+technology%2C+experience+and+expertise+to+create+the+next+generation+of+ships+in+Japan%2C%E2%80%9D+outlining+the+course+ahead.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%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