NYK Line and IHI Power Systems, in cooperation with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), have completed the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel for commercial use—the tugboat Sakigake. The NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha will employ the vessel in tugboat operations in Tokyo Bay over a three-month demonstration period.

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 280mm bore four-stroke ammonia-fueled engines made by IHI Power Systems.

The predecessor, the LNG-fueled tugboat of the same name, was completed in August 2015 as the first LNG-fueled vessel in Japan. After eight years of tug service in Tokyo Bay, the vessel was docked at the NYK Group's Keihin Dock Co. Ltd. for conversion to an ammonia-fueled vessel.

The main engine, etc., were replaced with ammonia-fueled ones, and sea trials were conducted using ammonia as fuel. The completed vessel has taken the name Sakigake, hoping it will be a pioneer of ammonia-fueled vessels, just as it was of LNG-fueled vessels.

As part of the development of vessels equipped with domestically produced ammonia-fueled engines through NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund Project, NYK, IHI Power Systems, Japan Engine Corporation, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., and ClassNK are conducting research and development on ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC). This vessel is scheduled for delivery in November 2026.

IHI Power Systems will be made to develop a 250 mm bore four-stroke engine for the auxiliary engine of this vessel.