Tokyo, Japan – NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers (NBP), a subsidiary of NYK Line, announced on September 30, 2024, that its cargo vessel, BRIGHT QUEEN（DWT 13,600 ）, has received a new notation “a-EA(GRS)” from ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), indicating the application of green steel in the ship’s construction. This marks the world’s first instance of a vessel receiving such a notation for using green steel.
(Text by Hiro Yamamoto)
Photo courtesy= NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers, JFE Steel
The BRIGHT QUEEN（DWT 13,600 ） was delivered by Higaki Shipbuilding on September 24, 2024, and has been deployed on coastal routes connecting Japan with other parts of Asia. The vessel is managed by Pacific Ship Management, based in Matsuyama, and operated by NBP. It primarily transports steel products from Japan and carries biomass and plywood from Southeast Asia back to Japan.
The vessel uses JFE Steel’s newly developed green steel, “JGreex.” This is the first time a vessel within the NYK Group has been constructed solely with green steel materials. The use of green steel aligns with the growing momentum toward decarbonization in the maritime industry, as companies aim to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire supply chain.
JFE Steel has been collaborating with various shipping companies to develop a new business model that equitably distributes the CO2 reduction value throughout the supply chain, leading the way globally in this initiative. Moving forward, JFE plans to supply approximately 36,000 tons of JGreex for nine new vessels to be built by five different shipping companies.
According to JFE Steel, the nine dry bulk vessels utilizing JGreex will be operated by several companies, including four by NBP, one each by MOL Drybulk, Toko Kaiun Kaisha, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, and two by Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha.
This groundbreaking step signals a significant shift in the maritime industry towards adopting sustainable materials and reducing the environmental impact of shipbuilding, showcasing Japan’s leadership in advancing green shipping practices.
〆ＮＹＫバルク・プロジェクト（NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers）はグリーン鋼材適用船で船級符号（Notation）の付記を取得した
日本郵船（NYK Line）グループのＮＹＫバルク・プロジェクト（NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers、ＮＢＰ）は2024年９月30日、同社が運航する近海貨物船「ＢＲＩＧＨＴ ＱＵＥＥＮ」が日本海事協会（ＮＫ）からグリーン鋼材が適用された船舶であることを示す船級符号の付記（ノーテーション）「ａ-ＥＡ（ＧＲＳ）」を付与されたと発表した。船舶へのグリーン鋼材適用に対し、ノーテーションが付与されるのは世界初である。
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