NYK & Partners to Create World’s First Biomass-Fueled Ship

Japanese shipping line Nippon Yusen Kaisha has partnered with NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, Tsuneishi, and British utility Drax to develop the world’s first biomass-fueled vessel by the end of this decade.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed at the British Embassy in Tokyo, outlining the companies' plans to initially create a biomass fuel plant onboard the vessel. They will also explore other renewable technologies to reduce emissions and fuel costs associated with shipping biomass.

Japan's demand for biomass pellets is increasing, with imports primarily coming from North America, where Drax operates plants in Canada and the US.

These pellets are transported via smaller handy-size bulk carriers, which have faced difficulties in switching to lower-emission fuels like ammonia due to their limited fuel tank sizes.

The proposed biomass fuel plant will use a gasifier to convert biomass at high temperatures, producing gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane. These gases will then power a generator to propel the vessel and provide a portion of its internal power, according to NYK.