In Japan, NYK Group announced on October 15 that its ammonia-fueled tugboat Sakigake has become the first ship in the world to generate certified emissions reduction credits through actual operations. The certification applies to greenhouse gas emissions reduced during tug services performed in Yokohama since the vessel’s launch in 2024.
The credits were verified by a third party and are eligible for allocation under a book-and-claim system. According to NYK, this could support future reductions in Scope 3 emissions for cargo owners using low-carbon maritime services.
“Ammonia fuel’s environmental contribution potential has expanded,” the company stated, noting that this marks the first time operational data from an ammonia-fueled vessel has been used to create tradeable emissions value.
Sakigake, the world’s first ammonia-fueled tugboat developed for commercial use, is operated by NYK subsidiary Shin-Nihonkai Tugboat Co. It uses low-impact ammonia supplied by JERA and manufactured by Resonac, partially from recycled plastics.
NYK said it will continue developing the ammonia fuel value chain, including a larger ocean-going ammonia carrier scheduled for delivery in November 2026. The company plans to scale adoption through both domestic harbor operations and international shipping applications.
More on the story
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
