19 August 2024
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd.

World's First Machine Room Safety Accreditation for Ammonia Fueled Ammonia GasCarrier to Be Granted by ClassNK-- Realizing safe operation of ammonia-fueled ships through the highest safety measures -The world’s first accreditation* for “Machinery Room Safety for Ammonia” (MRS) will be granted byClassNK for the ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) currently being developed by aconsortium that includes Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY).
MRS is Class notation** demonstrating a ship is equipped with excellent ammonia safety measures forthe machinery room. MRS also confirms the vessel meets the highest safety measures under theguidelines for ammonia-fueled ships.
BackgroundThe consortium to which NYK and NSY belong is aiming for AFMGC delivery by the end of November
2026. The vessel development is under the Green Innovation Fund Project*** by Japan’s New Energyand Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). One of the biggest challenges in theship’s development is to overcome toxicity in the machinery room. It is essential to have measures tokeep the crew safe, such as a design to avoid ammonia leakage from piping and tanks. To overcome
toxicity, the consortium has conducted a risk assessment reviewed by ClassNK, risk assessments andsafety measures from a user’s point of view led by NYK’s engineers, and a study of the ship’sspecifications to realize the world’s highest level of safety.
Overview of MRS Notation
The minimum design requirements for using ammonia safely on board are regulated in the ammoniafueled ship guidelines issued by ClassNK. To receive an MRS notation, it is necessary to satisfy theoptional functional requirement to minimize personal exposure to leaking ammonia in the machineryroom. This notation shall be granted only to ships that meet the functional requirement and secure thehighest level of safety.

Future Developments
The consortium continues vessel development, the creation of operation manuals for actual operations,etc., aiming for delivery by November 2026. Moreover, we aim to further improve safety for ammoniafueled ships through technical know-how and achievements, including MRS accreditation, with thecollaboration of consortium members.
Vessel Overview
Type
Planned delivery
date
Shipbuilder
Vessel image

40,000 m³ type ammonia fueled ammonia gas carrier
November 2026
Japan Marine United Corporation, Ariake Shipyard

Company Overviews and Contacts
NameOverview
Nippon Yusen
Headquarters: Tokyo
Kabushiki Kaisha
Representative: Takaya Soga, President(NYK)
Website: https://www.nyk.com/english/
Nihon ShipyardCo., Ltd. (NSY)

Head office: Tokyo
President: Kiyoshi Higaki
Website: https://www.nsyc.co.jp/en/

Contacts
Media Relations Team, Corporate
Communication Group
Email:NYKJP.ML.MEDIA@nykgroup.com
Human Resources & General Affairs
GroupTelephone: +81-45-212-8200;
Email: info@nsyc.co.jp* The “world’s first” claim is as of August 2024 according to research by ClassNK.
** Class Notation
Class notations are affixed to classification characters when the ship is registered, and the provisions ofspecial or additional requirements or the relaxation of conditions are applied.
*** Green Innovation Fund ProjectA 2 trillion-yen NEDO fund created to significantly accelerate current efforts such as structuraltransformation of the energy and industrial sector and innovation through bold investment toward carbonneutrality by 2050. The fund provides continual support from R&D and demonstration to social
implementation for up to 10 years for companies that share ambitious and concrete goals with the public
and private sectors and tackle them as management issues. NEDO mainly provides support in 14 priority
areas for which action plans are being formulated in the green growth strategy.