NYK Group's Air-Lubrication System Recognized at 2013 Eco-Products Awards
December 13, 2013
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Monohakobi Technology Institute
From left, Makoto Igarashi; Yasuo Tanaka;
Manabu Sakai, the parliamentary secretary for the Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; and Tatsurou Iwashita
On December 12, Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Award, one of the highest awards in the eco-services category, was presented jointly to Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK; head office: Tokyo; president: Yasumi Kudo), the Monohakobi Technology Institute (an NYK Group company; head office: Tokyo), and Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (head office: Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture) in recognition of the NYK Group’s use of an energy-saving air-lubrication system on its vessels.
The awards ceremony was held in Tokyo at Eco-Products 2013, the largest environmental exhibition in Japan, and attended by NYK managing corporate officer Yasuo Tanaka; Tatsurou Iwashita, director and general manager of the Design Dept. at Oshima Shipbuilding; and Makoto Igarashi, president of MTI.
The awarded air-lubrication system effectively reduces CO2 emissions by use of bubbles generated by air released from the bottom of the vessel to lessen the frictional resistance between a vessel's bottom and the seawater. Moreover, in 2010 a new air-lubrication system that features a blower that provides air to the vessel bottom, thus reducing friction between the vessel bottom and the sea, was installed on two NYK Group module carriers. A system using the vessel's scavenging air was additionally developed and installed on a new coal carrier in 2012, thus demonstrating the viability of a system for large vessels having deep drafts. The NYK Group is also currently looking to equip newly built car carriers with this eco-friendly system.
Based on its environmental management vision — i.e., "to contribute to the global environment and the creation of sustainable societies by managing environmental risks and arriving at an optimal balance between environment and economy" — the NYK Group has become a tireless promoter of the development of innovative technologies and devices to improve vessel operation and thus reduce negative environmental impacts. Equipping vessels with air-lubrication systems has been highly commended both in Japan and abroad as an approach leading to the prevention of global warming.
- Recognitions Received for NYK’s Air-lubrication System (by fiscal year)
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2013
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Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Award at the 2013 Eco-Products Awards
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2013
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Highest award at the 2013 Nikkei Global Environmental Technology Awards
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2013
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2012 Ship of the Year Award by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers
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2013
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Finalist at the 2013 Lloyd’s List Awards
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2013
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Finalist for the Clean Shipping Award at the 2013 Seatrade Awards
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2013
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Award for excellence at the 40th Environmental Awards sponsored by the Hitachi Environment Foundation and Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Ltd.
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2012
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Japan’s 2012 Minister of the Environment Award in the technical development and commercialization categories for the promotion of measures to address climate change
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2011
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Special award at the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers’ Ship of the Year Awards
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2010
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Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award at the 20th Global Environment Awards
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The NYK Group will continue its efforts to develop and make use of new environmental approaches.
Reference: Announcement on November 28, 2013, "NYK's Air-Lubrication System Recognized at 2013 Eco-Products Awards,"
Inquiries can be directed as follows:
NYK Line, Corporate Communication and CSR Group, tel. +81-3-3284-5197
Monohakobi Technology Institute, tel. +81-3-5222-7727
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