Certification milestone
Japanese company NYK Line and group partner Shin Nippon Kaiyosha recently secured third party certification for greenhouse gas savings generated by the ammonia fuelled tugboat Sakigake. The Book and Claim document quantifies emissions avoided during towage services in Yokohama port, converting them into tradable environmental credits. This represents the first time real world ammonia powered operations have produced verifiable value that shippers can count toward scope three targets. The milestone validates fuel ammonia not only as a clean energy source but also as a financial instrument for decarbonisation.
How the system works
The tugboat burns ECOANN, an eco ammonia produced partly from post consumer plastic feedstock, eliminating carbon dioxide during combustion. Emission reductions are measured against a conventional diesel baseline then verified by an independent body. Through the Book and Claim system reductions are assigned to customers irrespective of physical fuel delivery, allowing flexible allocation across complex supply chains. A non obvious insight is that this accounting flexibility could shorten the payback period for alternative fuel vessels because credits can be sold immediately rather than waiting for long term charter premiums.
Expanding the platform
NYK aims to broaden the model across its fleet and beyond. Development of a two hundred metre ammonia fuelled medium gas carrier scheduled for completion in twenty twenty six demonstrates the company vision of a full value chain from fuel production and bunkering to certified credits. By integrating battery packs and digital monitoring NYK expects each successive vessel to capture richer data, improving credit accuracy and price.
Opportunity for port stakeholders
Ports benefit as early adopters. Dedicated bunkering procedures perfected in Yokohama raise local maritime safety standards and attract innovators. As more ship calls demand ammonia, port operators can justify infrastructure that doubles as export capacity for green hydrogen derivatives.
Conclusion
The Sakigake experience proves that alternative marine fuels can create direct revenue streams while cutting emissions. By turning performance data into certified value, NYK accelerates investment decisions throughout the shipping sector and opens a practical route toward climate aligned logistics.