NYK shares ammonia-fuelled vessel experience at IMO

NYK Group presented its experience and ongoing work on ammonia-fuelled vessels during the 12th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 12), held at the IMO headquarters in London from September 14 to 18, 2026.

The Japanese shipping group shared operational experience from Sakigake, described by NYK as the world’s first commercially operated ammonia-fuelled tugboat. The vessel was delivered in August 2024 and has accumulated two years of operational experience using ammonia as fuel.

NYK also provided an update on its ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier (AFMGC), which is scheduled for delivery in November 2026. The company outlined the safety approach being applied to the development and operation of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

NYK donates Sakigake model to IMO

On September 14, NYK donated a model of Sakigake to the IMO. NYK Managing Executive Officer Carl-Johan Hagman presented the model to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.

The presentation provided an overview of NYK Group’s work on ammonia-fuelled vessels and its efforts related to decarbonising international shipping. Representatives of IMO member states, international organisations and the maritime industry attended the event.

Atsushi Takahashi, Chief Engineer of Sakigake, and Masaya Kawai, Master of the vessel, also attended the ceremony. Both are from Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha, which operates Sakigake.

IMO seminar examines ammonia as marine fuel

On September 17, Jun Kato, General Manager of NYK’s Engineering Development Group, participated in an IMO-hosted technical seminar on the use of ammonia as marine fuel.

Kato outlined the development of two ammonia-fuelled vessels that NYK has been pursuing since 2021 through a Green Innovation Fund project operated by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

His presentation covered the safety considerations incorporated into the vessels as well as crew-training programmes designed to support safe ammonia-fuel operations.

The seminar also included presentations from Sakigake’s Master and Chief Engineer. Drawing on the tugboat’s operational experience, they discussed safety considerations, operating procedures and challenges associated with using ammonia as a marine fuel.

NYK plans to apply operational experience to future vessels

NYK said the experience gained from Sakigake’s operation, safety management and technology development will be used in the development of future oceangoing ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The company said it intends to use these lessons to support the wider adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels, contribute to the development of an ammonia value chain and advance efforts toward carbon neutrality in international shipping.