Development of the first ammonia-fuelled tugboat to be built in Japan passed an important milestone after securing classification society approval
ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for the A-Tug, which will use ammonia as fuel and was jointly developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and IHI Power Systems.
The partners in the research, development and deployment project expect A-Tug to demonstrate the feasibility of using ammonia as a fuel on large tugboats to decarbonise maritime operations in ports and close to shore.
ClassNK has been involved in the project from the start to ensure the safety of A-Tug and its crew, as ammonia is proven to be toxic to humans and corrosive to materials.
It reviewed the design of A-Tug under the research and development part of the project.
ClassNK has published Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels as a necessary standard to minimise the risks related to ammonia-fuelled ships for the vessels, crews and environments. It stipulates requirements for installation, controls and safety devices for using ammonia as a fuel.
These guidelines were used for the design review. ClassNK issue its AiP for A-Tug after verifying it complies with the prescribed requirements and is in accordance with Part C-1 of its guidelines.
The next stage of the project is to award a construction contract to the shipyard and begin building the hull.
NYK Line and IHI expect to introduce A-Tug to demonstrate its operation at the port of Yokohama, Japan in 2024.
ClassNK will continue to support as the certification body, and will strive to provide appropriate standards for ammonia-fuelled ships through the expertise gained from the collaboration.
