Seven Japanese companies have joined forces to develop four ammonia-fuelled car carriers and establish an integrated marine fuel supply chain, marking a major step towards the commercial adoption of ammonia as an alternative shipping fuel.
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) will each operate two vessels, with deliveries scheduled for 2030. Japanese shipbuilders Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard and Nihon Shipyard will undertake the vessels’ design and construction.
The car carriers, expected to be Japan’s first ammonia-fuelled vessels of their kind, will feature dual-fuel engines and sufficient ammonia storage capacity to complete transpacific voyages without switching to conventional fuels. They are expected to transport vehicles for customers, including Toyota.
The initiative also involves energy company JERA and Kyokuyo Shipyard, which will help establish an integrated ammonia supply chain centred on Japan’s Chubu region. JERA plans to procure green ammonia produced using renewable energy, potentially including supplies from India, and develop loading infrastructure at its existing Hekinan terminal.
Kyokuyo will construct a dedicated ammonia bunkering vessel, scheduled for completion in 2030. The vessel will be owned and operated by NYK or one of its subsidiaries.
NYK and K Line will also establish an equally owned joint venture to market and supply ammonia marine fuel, primarily through ship-to-ship bunkering operations at Nagoya and Mikawa.
The partners describe the initiative as the world’s first integrated commercial ammonia marine fuel supply chain connecting fuel procurement, bunkering infrastructure and vessel operations.
Given ammonia’s toxicity and corrosive properties, the new car carriers will incorporate multiple safety measures, including leak-detection and neutralisation systems.
The announcement follows Japan’s first ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering operation involving an ammonia-fuelled vessel in September, led by NYK. The latest project represents a significant step towards establishing the infrastructure required to support ammonia-powered commercial shipping and advance the maritime industry’s decarbonisation efforts.