NYK to use new technology to cut pollution

Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK), Japan’s largest shipping line by sales, will spend 70 billion yen ($638 million) over six years on new engines, solar panels and other technologies to help cut vessel fuel usage and pollution. The company aims to cut carbon-dioxide emissions by at least 10 % per ton-mile by 2013, compared with March 2007, it said in a statement. The plans also include creating an ‘`air cavity’ between ship hulls and the ocean to reduce friction and fuel consumption.

NYK and other shipping lines have moved to cut fuel usage amid growing environmental concerns and because bunker fuel prices have surged 85 % in the past year. The Tokyo-based company is studying the use of wind, hydrogen and solar cells to replace the use of oil on all new vessels by 2050.

“Companies that rely on fossil fuel are facing a difficult future,” President Koji Miyahara said. “If we didn’t take steps like these, then someone else would come in and make decisions for us.” The company will spend half of the 70 billion yen on fitting less-polluting engines, it said. It will also use some of the funds to add solar panels to a car-carrier that will be launched in December. Nippon Oil Corp., Japan’s largest refiner, will help in the development of the panels.