Page 214 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΣ 2024

TECHNOLOGY & SHIPBUILDING

renewal survey, before the sails themselves version in early 2026 and is expected to start
Ammonia has emerged were installed – in just four hours – at the Port operating on ammonia in the first half of 2026,
as a promising of Bilbao. becoming the world’s first ammonia-fuelled
alternative fuel in-service ship. In addition to chartering the
in the shipping HYDROGEN ENGINE R&D CENTRE vessel, Equinor contributes with financing for
industry's LAUNCHED IN JAPAN the conversion. Wärtsilä will then supply the
search for more JPNH YDRO, a joint venture between CMB. engine and the complete fuel gas supply sys-
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sustainable fuel TECH, TSUNEISHI Facilities & Craft, and tem and exhaust after-treatment needed for
options. Kambara Kisen, held an official ceremony the conversion, making it also the first vessel
on 4 September 2024 to inaugurate the new to use Wärtsilä’s recently released ammonia
Hydrogen Engine R&D Centre. solution.
This innovative centre is a pioneering hydrogen Ammonia has emerged as a promising alter-
test site in Japan, designed to advance hydro- native fuel in the shipping industry's search for
gen engine development. Equipped with an more sustainable fuel options. With new global
engine test bench featuring precise measure- regulations having set a clear destination for
ment tools and a hydrogen station capable of shipping – net zero emissions by mid-cen-
supplying hydrogen to ships, the centre’s focus tury – ammonia will play a significant role in
is on bringing hydrogen engines to the market enabling the shipping industry to reduce its
for ships and land-based heavy-duty applica- emissions.
tions. Once fully developed, these engines will, A recent report by Wärtsilä highlights the role
amongst other applications, be implemented in that sustainable fuels will play in achieving
vessels built by the Tsuneishi Group. this target which is set by the International
The launch of this R&D Centre marks a signif- Maritime Organisation (IMO). According to
icant step forward in Japan’s hydrogen engine the report, existing decarbonisation solu-
development. It will also be a key hub for the tions, such as fuel efficiency measures, can
homologation and approval of hydrogen dual- cut shipping emissions by up to 27%; however,
fuel engines for the Japanese market, reinforc- sustainable fuels such as ammonia will be a
ing JPNH YDRO’s position in the push toward critical step in eliminating the remaining 73%.
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cleaner energy solutions.
JAPANESE ALLIANCE FOCUSING ON
Α TRIAL OF LEO SATELLITE LCO2 CARRIERS
INTERNET SERVICE ON AN “K” LINE, MOL, and NYK Line have started
AUTONOMOUS BARGE OPERATION a joint study with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding,
ACROSS THE OSLO FJORD Imabari Shipbuilding, JMU, and Nihon Ship-
Kongsberg Maritime is to begin a trial of Eute- yard, which is a joint venture between Imabari
lsat OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite Shipbuilding and JMU, to establish standard
internet service on an autonomous barge specifications and designs for LCO carriers.
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operation across the Oslo Fjord. As the demand for LCO carriers is expected
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In a collaborative project with the help of Nor- to grow in various CCS (Carbon dioxide Cap-
wegian telecommunications provider Telenor ture and Storage) projects that transport CO2
Maritime, a zero-emission electric barge, collected in Japan to storage sites by sea, it is
owned and operated by grocery distributor necessary to build and supply LCO carriers
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ASKO, will be equipped with Eutelsat One- stably within Japan to realise the CCS value
Web’s latest Kymeta Peregrine u8 flat panel chain and improve economic efficiency.
antenna system for the duration of the trial. Therefore, the seven companies have agreed
to conduct a joint study to establish standard
WÄRTSILÄ PARTNERS WITH EIDESVIK specifications and designs for LCO carriers
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ON WORLD’S FIRST AMMONIA- and to establish a construction supply chain.
FUELLED PLATFORM SUPPLY VESSEL This study will focus on LCO carriers and aim
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CONVERSION to enable construction at other shipyards in
Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a con- Japan as well. Additionally, they plan to col-
tract with Norwegian shipowner Eidesvik to laborate widely with industry stakeholders,
supply the equipment for the conversion of including other shipyards that share the same
an offshore platform supply vessel (PSV) awareness of the issues, to contribute to the
to operate with ammonia fuel. The vessel, further progress of a decarbonised society by
“Viking Energy”, which is on contract to developing low-emission ships using decar-
energy major Equinor, is scheduled for con- bonisation technologies, such as ammonia fuel.

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