NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. (NBP), part of the NYK Group, has completed the operation of its methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier Green Future on a copper concentrate voyage for BHP Group.
The voyage achieved an approximate 65 per cent reduction in well-to-wake GHG emissions compared to conventional fuel.
According to NYK research, this represents the world’s first oceangoing bulk carrier operation using low-carbon methanol fuel.
The vessel’s low-carbon methanol fuel was biomass-derived and ISCC EU-certified, bunkered at Ulsan port, South Korea, in September 2025.
The initiative is part of NYK Group’s strategy to evaluate low-carbon fuels for Scope 1 emissions reduction while supporting cargo owners like BHP in lowering Scope 3 emissions across the supply chain.
The operation also demonstrates how low-carbon methanol can help reduce the overall carbon footprint of transported copper concentrates.
READ: NYK charters new LNG carriers with Cheniere for 2028 delivery
Voyage schedule:
- May 2025: Delivery of Green Future, NYK’s first methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier
- September 2025: Low-carbon methanol bunkering at Ulsan port
- January 2026: Loading of copper concentrate in Chile
- March 2026: Scheduled discharge in China
NYK emphasises that the well-to-wake GHG reduction includes the full lifecycle of fuel production, delivery, and onboard combustion.
The carrier is part of ongoing decarbonisation efforts in partnership with cargo owners, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating low-carbon fuels into bulk shipping operations without compromising vessel performance.
NYK plans to continue evaluating methanol dual-fuel operations across its fleet and expand collaboration with industrial cargo partners to support sustainable maritime logistics.
For more information:
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha – https://www.nyk.com/english/
