Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Hitachi Zosen and Yanmar Power Technology (YPT) have secured approval in principle (AiP) from classification society ClassNK for a methane oxidation catalyst system concept designed for liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessels.
Hitachi Zosen and YPT designed the concept for the methane oxidation catalyst system under a project adopted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) as ‘Development of Methane Slip Reduction Technology from LNG Fueled Vessels by Improving Catalysts and Engines’.
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MOL and Namura Shipbuilding will be responsible for constructing the actual demonstration vessel, as well as designing the installation of the system.
Between 2021 and 2026, the project intends to lower the environmental impact of LNG fuel engines by attaining a methane slip reduction rate of more than 70%.
MOL stated that the proposed system meets the requirements of the International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) (Note 5) and other regulations.
In a statement, ClassNK said: “ClassNK has conducted its safety review on the co-developed concept design based on its related rules, including Part GF incorporating IGF Code, and issued the AiP upon confirming that the design meets the requirements.”
Recently, Nippon Yūsen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) Line, along with its group firms MTI and Japan Maritime Science, received AiP from ClassNK and Bureau Veritas for its fully autonomous ship framework.
