Seven Japanese companies to build four ammonia-fuelled car carriers

Ro-roNYK, K Line, JERA, Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Nihon Shipyard (NSY) and Kyokuyo Shipyard have agreed to build and operate four ammonia-fuelled car carriers and to commercialise ammonia bunkering in Japan's Chubu region, the companies announced on 27 October. The ships, scheduled for delivery in 2030, will be Japan's first ammonia-fuelled car carriers.

NYK and K Line will each own and operate two of the ships, which are expected to carry finished vehicles for customers including Toyota. Shin Kurushima leads the basic design, and the ships will be designed and built jointly by Shin Kurushima, Imabari and NSY. They will have dual-fuel engines that can run on ammonia and fuel tanks large enough for trans-Pacific voyages on ammonia alone.

Kyokuyo Shipyard will design and build an ammonia bunkering vessel, also due in 2030, to be owned and operated by NYK or a wholly owned subsidiary. A fuel sales joint venture owned equally by NYK and K Line will supply the car carriers ship-to-ship, mainly at the ports of Nagoya and Mikawa. JERA will procure green ammonia, with supplies expected from regions including India, and build ship loading facilities at its ammonia receiving terminal next to the Hekinan thermal power station.

The capacity and dimensions of the car carriers have not been disclosed.

okt 27 2026