The leading shipping company NYK Line will build a tugboat loaded with a “Dual Fuel” engine (using LNG and heavy oil) within 2015, introducing the first one into Tokyo Bay. It will be the first attempt to apply LNG as fuel to a tugboat.

The international emission regulations on the air pollutants inside sea ports with Europe as the main player is getting more and more strict to control substances like NOx or SOx exhausted from ships. In cope with such a trend, NYK Line has been engaged in researches on an alternative fuel to replace heavy oil since 2011. Taking particular note of LNG with less emission of environmentally restricted gases like CO2 or NOx, NYK has been developing LNG-fueled ships. The building of tugboats at this time is carried out using the subsidy as part of the subsidized business based on the “Energy-saving logistics promotion (the demonstrative examination project for innovative energy-saving maritime transportation systems) in 2013” jointly sponsored by METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).

Keihin Dock 100% owned by NYK specializing in small-ship building will construct the tugboat. LNG will probably be supplied by Tokyo Gas.

An LNG supply system will be established jointly including the construction of the base. According to NYK’s plan, a completed tugboat will be operated by Wing Maritime Service of tugboat company 100% owned by NYK.

A tugboat is a small ship which is usually used to escort and guide ships into the port and to leave the wharf, or to remove floating structures. According to the Harbour Tugowners’ Association, there are about 400 tugboats in Japan and about 70 out of them are working in Tokyo Bay.

As the life of a tugboat is so short ranging from 7 to 8 years, it is a field where a repeat order can be expected. For the tugboat to be built this time, two small-type LNG storage tanks will be installed with the feature of loading with the “Dual Fuel” engine to use LNG together with heavy oil. Therefore, when the tugboat is operated in the LNG mode, you can expect to save about 30% emission of CO2, reduce about 80% NOx emission and cut down 100% of SOx in comparison with operation using heavy oil.