Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) will support three NYK Line projects aimed at cutting CO2 emissions
The support package has been agreed for fiscal 2009 and covers:
An experiment to confirm the effectiveness of technology to reduce frictional resistance created by a large, shallow-draft vessel equipped with a twin screw motor.
R&D of vessels’ operational performance as they become larger.
Development of an international navigation control system.
In the first project, the research is being conducted by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd and NYK with cooperation also expected from the Monohakobi Technology Institute and NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. This experiment will confirm the frictional-resistance reduction created by air lubrication on a vessel module to be completed in 2010.
By supplying air to a vessel’s bottom, the air lubrication reduces frictional resistance with seawater. For the first time, this technology will be installed on commercial vessels as a permanent fixture, and it is expected to result in a reduction of CO2 emissions by around 10%.
The second project is being carried out by NYK, the Monohakobi Technology Institute and Japan Maritime Science, Inc. Most Japanese car carriers are less than 200m long. By making vessels larger, the amount of CO2 emission per car can be reduced.
In this project, which uses a simulator and other technologies, tests will be conducted on risk-avoidance and operational performance (performance to avoid collisions) for car carriers longer than 200m Based on this research, the project will propose requisite technologies for large vessels so as to achieve the same level of operational performance as conventional vessels.
Research for the third project is being conducted by NYK and the Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI). Efficient navigation is a prerequisite for curtailing CO2 emissions. In this project, NYK and MTI have started joint development of a worldwide time-reservation system for berth windows and canal passages.
The introduction of an international port control system will enable vessels to reduce their time at ports and to navigate at lower speeds. This project will also make use of international services when the system is implemented, and propose future roles for international navigation controls.
In addition to the subsidy from MLIT, these projects will be implemented as part of the “R&D for Reducing Greenhouse Gas in International Maritime Affairs” programme, which is being jointly carried out by the Japan Ship Technology Research Association and the Nippon Foundation.
NYK Line's 6200 CEU car carrier Auriga Leader, which is partly-powered by solar energy, made an inaugural call at the Port of Long Beach this week. As previously reported, The vessel is outfitted with 328 solar panels that can generate up to 40 kW, decreasing demand on the ship's diesel-powered auxiliary engines. The photovoltaic panels are part of a technology demonstration project by Toyota Motor Corporation and NYK.
