Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) announced today that, together with ITOCHU Corporation,
Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd., and NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd., has
obtained an Approval in Principle (AiP) from Classification Society, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai for the
design of an ammonia-fueled ship (200,000 deadweight ton class bulk carrier and hereinafter “the
Vessel”).
The vessel, which recently received an AiP, was developed by Nihon Shipyard as the part of the
“Integrated Project for the Development and Social Implementation of Ammonia Fueled Ships”
which was jointly adopted by “the Green Innovation Fund Project / Development for Next Generation Ships / Development of Ammonia Fueled Ships” of the New Energy and Industrial
Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
At this time, there are no international guidelines for the use of ammonia as marine fuel, so ““K”
Line and partners are looking toward obtaining Alternative Design Approval (Note 2) for the
shipbuilding of the Vessel. A risk assessment (Hazard Identification Study – “HAZID”) was recently
conducted on the safety of using ammonia as marine fuel, and the basic design of the Vessel was
evaluated as “capable of ensuring the same level of safety as ships operating with existing fuel”.
The acquisition of the AiP is an important milestone for the implementation of ammonia-fueled
ships, a new challenge for the maritime industry, and also an important step toward the further
promotion of the “Integrated Project” being facilitated by ITOCHU Corporation. “K” Line and partners
will proceed with the development of the Vessel based on the basic design for which the AiP has
been obtained, and aims to take delivery of the Vessel and begin its social implementation in 2026.
“K” Line has revised a part of its long-term environmental guideline, “K” Line Environmental Vision
2050 (Note3) in Nov 2021 and has set a new goal for 2050 “to achieve net zero GHG emissions”.
As a comprehensive logistics group based on the shipping industry, “K” Line Group will continue
to work to reduce its environmental impact in order to realize a sustainable society and increase its
corporate value, based on its corporate philosophy of “contributing to the enrichment of people’s
lives”.
Media & Press Release “K” Line Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.