The building of Japan’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled tugboat was completed for Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) by Keihin Dock Co. Ltd’s Oppama plant on August 31. The vessel will be used to verify the effectiveness of LNG as a marine fuel; it’s name — “Sakigake” (PRESTO) — shouldering the expectations of being a flagship for opening up a new business field of LNG fuel in Japan.
The ship is chartered to the Wing Maritime Service Corporation and will engage in work mainly in Yokohama and Kawasaki Ports.
It is equipped with dual-fuel engines that can use either heavy marine oil or LNG as fuel. NYK says it will meet all requirements of a tugboat while delivering superior environmental performance; using LNG will lower emissions of CO2 by about 30%, NOX by about 80%, and SOX by 100%, compared to heavy oil.
LNG supply to the ship is done from the docks of Yokohama by the “Truck to Ship” method, with fuel supplkied by Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. The first Truck to Ship refueling in Japan was successfully completed in July this year when the vessel was commissioned.
Tugboat “Sakigake” Overview
Overall length: 37.20m
Overall width: 10.20m
Molded depth: 4.40m
Gross tonnage: 272 t
Main engine: NIIGATA dual-fuel, Model 6L28AHX-DF × 2
Shipowners: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Flag: Japan
Classification: General Nippon Kaiji Kyokai
NYK has filed a patent for the LNG receiving system and the LNG vapoirzation system adopted onboard
(Source: NYK Group)
