ClassNK approves world’s first methane oxidation catalyst system developed by Hitachi Zosen, MOL and YPT

Classification Society ClassNK granted the Approval in Principle (AiP) for the world’s first concept design of the methane oxidation catalyst system jointly developed by Hitachi Zosen Corporation Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Yanmar Power Technology Co. (YPT).

A concept of the methane oxidation catalyst system was designed by Hitachi Zosen and YPT as part of a project which was adopted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as "Development of Methane Slip Reduction Technology from LNG Fueled Vessels by Improving Catalysts and Engines" under the Green Innovation Fund. Moreover, MOL, which operates the actual demonstration vessel for the project, and Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. set to build the vessel and conduct design for installing the system on board, have joined to develop specifications of the system together through a risk assessment and other measures.

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.

ClassNK will continue to ensure the environment for the early establishment of decarbonization technologies by providing standards and technical verifications for advanced initiatives.

The device is designed to reduce methane slip by placing a methane oxidation catalyst in the exhaust of an LNG-fueled engine or generator that contains unburned methane and oxidizing the methane over the catalyst.

In this project, the partner companies aim to achieve a methane slip reduction rate of more than 70% for LNG-fueled vessels over a six-year period from FY2021 to FY2026. The reduction will be achieved by combining methane oxidation catalysts and engine improvements thereby further reducing the environmental impact of LNG-fueled vessels. On 27 October 2021, the following press releases were issued by each company.

Also this week, Society ClassNK granted the AiP for a fully autonomous ship framework (development code “APExS-auto”) jointly developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), MTI Co. (MTI), and Japan Marine Science Inc.

"APExS-auto” is a framework of the concept for realizing a fully autonomous ship by automating a series of processes required for ship operation, including information gathering, analysis, planning, approval, and execution. It has been adopted in the fully autonomous ship demonstration conducted by the Designing the

Future of Full Autonomous Ship (DFFAS) Consortium, which is participating in the “Joint Technological Development Program for the Demonstration of Fully Autonomous Ships” under the fully autonomous ship project “MEGURI2040” administered by the Nippon Foundation.

ClassNK has been involved in various demonstration projects to support the development and implementation of automated and autonomous ship operation technologies from a safety perspective and has worked to establish the necessary safety standards. In 2020, ClassNK issued the AiP for a crewed autonomous ship framework developed by NYK and MTI.

For the concept design of “APExS-auto”, ClassNK has also conducted its safety review based on the requirements of the society’s “Guidelines for Automated/Autonomous Operation of ships”. Having confirmed its compliance with the requirements, including clarification of basic elements comprising the concept of the system, risk assessments, and backup systems, ClassNK issued the AiP.

In collaboration with partners, ClassNK will continue to ensure the environment for applying automated and autonomous ship operation technologies by providing standards and technical verifications for advanced initiatives.

APExS-auto is an acronym for “Action Planning and Execution System for Full Autonomous.”