Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Award, one of the highest awards in the eco-services category, was presented jointly to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, the Monohakobi Technology Institute, and Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. on December 12, in recognition of the NYK Group’s use of an energy-saving air-lubrication system on its vessels.
The awards ceremony was held in Tokyo at Eco-Products 2013, the largest environmental exhibition in Japan, and attended by NYK managing corporate officer Yasuo Tanaka; Iwashita Tatsurou, director and general manager of the Design Dept. at Oshima Shipbuilding; and Makoto Igarashi, president of MTI.
The awarded air-lubrication system effectively reduces CO2 emissions by use of bubbles generated by air released from the bottom of the vessel to lessen the frictional resistance between a vessel’s bottom and the seawater. Moreover, in 2010 a new air-lubrication system that features a blower that provides air to the vessel bottom, thus reducing friction between the vessel bottom and the sea, was installed on two NYK Group module carriers. A system using the vessel’s scavenging air was additionally developed and installed on a new coal carrier in 2012, thus demonstrating the viability of a system for large vessels having deep drafts. The NYK Group is also currently looking to equip newly built car carriers with this eco-friendly system.
Based on its environmental management vision — i.e., “to contribute to the global environment and the creation of sustainable societies by managing environmental risks and arriving at an optimal balance between environment and economy” — the NYK Group has become a tireless promoter of the development of innovative technologies and devices to improve vessel operation and thus reduce negative environmental impacts. Equipping vessels with air-lubrication systems has been highly commended both in Japan and abroad as an approach leading to the prevention of global warming.
Recognitions Received for NYK’s Air-lubrication System (by fiscal year):
“The NYK Group will continue its efforts to develop and make use of new environmental approaches,” the company said in a press release.
NYK, December 13, 2013