NYK and Akita Eisen KK, the only towing company in Akita prefecture, have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a crew transfer vessel (CTV)* business related to offshore wind power generation mainly in the waters off Akita prefecture.

The Japanese government has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. In particular, offshore wind power generation is one of the areas where market expansion is most expected, with the aim of installing stations capable of producing 30–45 million kilowatts by 2040 as an important source of future electricity. A CTV would fulfill the important role of transporting workers between offshore work site facilities and onshore locations during the installation and operation of offshore wind turbines.

In accordance with the Act of Promoting Utilization of Sea Areas in Development of Power Generation Facilities Using Maritime Renewable Energy Resources,** the sea areas off Noshiro, Mitane, and Oga in Akita prefecture, in addition to the sea area off Yurihonjo in Akita prefecture (north and south sides), have been selected as promotion areas, and public solicitation for offshore wind power business operators is underway.

In the future, the NYK Group will consider the commercialization of CTV ownership and ship management by utilizing the knowledge of CTVs gained through the group’s collaboration with the Northern Offshore Group in Sweden, in addition to the knowledge and network of Akita Eisen, which has more than 30 years of experience in ship operation and the training of seafarers in Akita.

On February 3, NYK released the NYK Group ESG Story***, which aims to further integrate ESG into the company’s management strategy and promotes activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through business activities, including the offshore wind business. To strongly promote ESG management, the NYK Group will encourage new value creation as a sustainable solution provider through a business strategy that includes efforts to contribute to the renewable energy business in Japan and overseas.

* Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV)
A vessel used to transport technicians safely and comfortably to and from sites during offshore wind power construction and maintenance. The vessel is built for high-speed operation and comes equipped with stability equipment that allows crews to safely transfer to and from the offshore wind farms.

** A law that allows the government to designate a promotion zone for the promotion of offshore wind power generation projects and allows power generation companies selected through public solicitation to occupy the sea area for up to 30 years.

***NYK Group ESG Story
A guideline detailing concrete efforts to integrate ESG into management strategies of the NYK Group. Details can be found in the following press release.

Location: 5-9, Tsuchizaki Port West 2-chome, Akita City
President: Kohei Nishinomiya