NYK and partners win ClassNK OK for ammonia FSRB

Japan’s shipping giant NYK and its partners Nihon Shipyard and IHI have secured an approval in principle from ClassNK for their ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB).

NYK said in a statement that this is the world’s first AiP for an A-FSRB.

In August last year, NYK signed a deal with the three firms for the commercialization of the barge.

An A-FSRB is an offshore floating facility that can receive and store ammonia. It gets the fuel in liquid form, regasifies it and sends it to a pipeline onshore, according to NYK.

The barge offers the advantages of shorter construction time and lower costs compared to onshore storage tanks and regasification plants.

In fact, NYK said that the partners expect the A-FSRB to speed up the adoption of fuel ammonia and contribute to its wider use as a “lower-environmental-impact next-generation fuel”.

Working with power firms

There are no international regulations for ammonia floating storage and regasification facilities.

NYK says that that the unique requirements of ammonia would have to be reflected in the design.

The firms conducted a risk identification of various contingencies and worked to identify technical issues from the initial study stage.

“A risk identification was conducted using the gap analysis method, which identifies differences between conventional ships and offshore floating facilities (heavy oil, LNG, etc.) and evaluates the impact of such differences,” NYK said.

As a result, the partners extracted items for future technical studies of possible accidental incidents and differences between conventional ships and offshore floating facilities and obtained the AiP from ClassNK.

According to NYK, the partners would continue to study the arrangement and introduction of A-FSRBs with electric power companies.

The partners expect power firms to be the main users of A-FSRBs.

Additionally, the parties would work on economic evaluation in parallel, NYK said.

Most Popular

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG to commission third jetty

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to introduce hazardous fluids to the third jetty at its Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana.

Another FSRU arrives in Egypt

The 160,000-cbm FSRU Energos Eskimo has arrived in Egypt from Jordan, according to shipping data. The unit is one of four FSRUs that will serve a charter deal with Egypt's EGAS as the country seeks to meet its growing demand for natural gas.

Samsung Heavy, KR to develop three-tank LNG carrier

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries signed a memorandum of understanding with compatriot classification society KR to jointly develop a 174,000-cbm LNG carrier featuring three cargo tanks.

More News Like This

China’s Hudong-Zhonghua delivers its 50th LNG carrier

Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua has delivered its 50th liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

Ocean Yield to boost stake in France LNG Shipping

KKR-backed Ocean Yield has agreed to increase its stake in LNG carrier owner France LNG Shipping.

ONE plans LNG-powered containership order

Ocean Network Express (ONE), a joint venture of Japan's NYK, MOL, and K Line is eyeing an order for LNG dual-fuel container vessels, according to shipbuilding sources.

QatarEnergy LNG carrier named in China

China’s Hudong-Zhonghua hosted a naming ceremony for one 174,000-cbm liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier built as part of the massive QatarEnergy shipbuilding program.