News Release
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ Corporation
First Dry Bulk Carrier Made Entirely with ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ’s JGreeX™ Green Steel Launched
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ Corporation announced today that a naming and launching ceremony was held yesterday at the headquarters of Higaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for the BRIGHT QUEEN, a dry bulk carrier built with ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ’s JGreeX™ green steel. JGreeX™, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions during steelmaking,* accounted for all steel materials purchased directly by Higaki Shipbuilding for the vessel, resulting in what is believed to be the world’s first ship built entirely with green steel.
This is the first of two bulk carriers, designed to transport large quantities of dry cargo, that Higaki Shipbuilding is building using JGreeX™ materials for shipping company NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. (NBP).
When the vessel enters service in September 2024, it is also expected to be the first to receive the “a-EA (GRS)” designation, indicating a hull structure made of green steel materials, in accordance with new environmental guidelines developed by ClassNK, a Japanese non-profit NGO engaged in ship classification and environmental protection.
Separately, NBP tentatively plans to order two additional dry bulk carriers to be built exclusively with JGreeX™ materials, resulting in nine carriers ordered by five companies for full or partial construction with JGreeX™ materials (Figure 1). As a result, ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ expects to deliver 36,000 tons of JGreeX™ products, up 12,000 tons from the original target.
Going forward, ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ will continue to work with shipping companies to create a new business model in which the cost of CO2 reduction is shared across the supply chain. ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ is contributing to global decarbonization with its low-carbon, energy-saving and high-efficiency technologies, as well as promoting JGreeX™ for expanded sales of green steel.
*³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ uses the mass balance approach to calculate GHG reductions for allocation to specific steel products.
Figure 1: Use of JGreeX™ products on dry bulk vessels
| Shipping company | Status | Related press releases | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers | Launched June 2024 |
June 20, 2023 Large Cargo Ships to be Made Exclusively with ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ’s JGreeX™ Green Steel－Collaboration with shippers aimed at sharing CO2-reduction costs across society－ (/en/release/2023/230620-2.html) |
| 2 | NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers | - | |
| 3 | MPL Drybulk | - | |
| 4 | Toko Kaiun Kaisha (Toko Line) |
- | |
| 5 | Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) | - | December 20, 2023 ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ’s JGreeX™ Green Steel Selected for Large Dry Bulk Carrier－Working with Shippers to Promote the Value of CO2 Reduction (/en/release/2023/231220.html) |
| 6 | Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha | - | |
| 7 | Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha | - | |
| 8 | NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers | - | Expected selection of JGreeX™ disclosed here |
| 9 | NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers | - |
Launching ceremony
About ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ Corporation
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated steel producers, was established through the consolidation of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 2003. The company operates several steelworks in Japan and numerous branch offices and affiliates throughout the world. ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ͵ÅÄ leverages world-class technologies and know-how to produce a wide range of products based on its “Only One, Number One” strategy of focusing on unique and best-in-class products. The company reported consolidated sales of 2,255 billion yen and consolidated crude steel output of 23.96 million tons in the fiscal year ended March 2021.
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