NYK, BHP strengthen ties to advance shipping decarbonisation

Japanese shipping company NYK and Australian mining, metals and petroleum company BHP have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand and deepen their existing business relationship and to support the decarbonisation of ocean transportation across their shared supply chain.

The duo will jointly study the next generation of zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission ships fuelled by green or blue ammonia.

If feasible, this could potentially support both organisations in their ongoing efforts to achieve their respective long-term GHG emission reduction targets for shipping and present a further decarbonisation option for the shipping industry.

BHP and NYK also aim to promote the use of GHG emission reduction measures such as energy-saving innovations and technologies, and alternative lower- and zero-GHG emission marine fuels.

“Signing this MOU with NYK, one of our long-term strategic partners, lets us leverage their reach and depth of expertise in shipping and decarbonisation – including the future fuel transition the industry must make – in support of BHP’s decarbonisation ambitions for net zero Scope 3 GHG emissions from shipping of BHP’s sold products by 2050,” Rashpal Singh Bhatti, BHP’s Vice President of Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence, commented.

“NYK is … pleased to expand our strategic partnership with BHP with a specific aim and focus on decarbonisation and we look forward to developing decarbonisation solutions for our shared supply chain… Going forward, NYK will continue to make full use of our knowledge, innovation and technologies … to support our decarbonisation of shipping in cooperation with customers,” Nobuhiro Kashima, Managing Executive Officer-Chief Executive of Dry Bulk Division, NYK, said.

Back in 2019, NYK and BHP completed a biofuel trial on a dry bulk carrier in Europe. Performed with sustainable biofuel company GoodFuels, the trial was undertaken after the biofuel was bunkered at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

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