The NYK group is enhancing the safety and energy savings of vessel operations through the utilization of big data collected during voyages.

We began its Innovative Bunker and Idle-time Saving (IBIS) project on its containerships in fiscal 2012 with the aim to achieve optimal economical vessel operations. From fiscal 2013, the knowledge and know-how acquired by IBIS was used on other types of vessels — not only containerships — in the IBIS TWO project to optimize ship's operations according to the characteristics and conditions of each vessel.
From fiscal 2019, the project name has been changed to "IBIS TWO Plus", and since fiscal 2020, we are pursuing optimal economical vessel operation beyond the boundaries of group companies in order to contribute to "Environment" of ESG through fuel saving activities.
In addition, IBIS TWO Plus serves as a platform within the Group for sharing information related to vessel operations, passing of skills and know-how of vessel operators, and training.

Our platform for using big data is the Ship Information Management System (SIMS), and we are enforcing the use of IoT in vessel operation.

We've also developed the portal site "LiVE", which displays data collected through SIMS and "VPAS" (Vessel Performance Analysis System), And we have applied for patents for these systems.

An example of our use of big data is our collection and storage of actual voyage data from a containership for half a year after modification of the ship's bulbous bow and installation of energy-saving equipment on board. The data showed a 23% reduction in CO₂ emissions, and this result was subsequently certified by the ship classification society ClassNK.

By making SIMS technology an integral part of the operations infrastructure for many vessel types and then enhancing the SIMS technology for the analysis of big data, we will be able to prevent engine breakdowns and thereby reduce maintenance costs and time loss lost due to engine problems, thus realizing safe, reliable cargo transport.

Please refer the relevant page of ”Climate Change Initiatives.”

To reduce energy consumption, ships often sail at a speed that is much slower than the average speed anticipated when the ship was designed and built. To make existing ships more energy efficient at these slower speeds, the NYK Group has been studying measures such as remodeling the ship's bulbous bow*1 and installing MT-FAST.

Big Data analyses using actual voyage data gathered over half a year after the implementation of improvements in June 2014 were conducted by the NYK Group, and a 23% reduction in CO₂ emissions was confirmed. The conversion was also verified not to affect the safe operation of the vessel or the operating condition of the engine.

The NYK Group will also aim for further energy savings by ships by proceeding with construction based on this new approach now that effective methods (patented) for these operating conditions have been established.

1. *1Bulbous bow
   A protruding bulb at the front of a ship just below the waterline. The bulb modifies the way the water flows around the hull, reducing drag and thus increasing speed, range and fuel efficiency.

Our air-lubrication system is an energy-saving technology that reduces friction between the hull and seawater by supplying air bubbles to the bottom of the vessel. In 2010, the NYK Group launched two module carriers^*3, Yamato and Yamatai, which became the world's first operational ocean vessels equipped with an air-lubrication system based on an air-blower. In July 2012, the group introduced the coal carrier Soyo, which is equipped with a world first an air-lubrication system featuring a main engine scavenging-air bypass (related patent acquired). The group has confirmed that the air-blower-based system reduces CO₂ emissions by an average of approximately 6 percent , while the system using a main engine scavenging air bypass is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions between approximately 4 percent and 8 percent. Moreover, we have been making efforts to equip other types of vessels - such as newly built car carriers since 2014 - with this eco-friendly system.

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.

We are currently proceeding with the installation of the system on other kinds of vessels. In fact, in May 2014 the NYK car carrier Aries Leader was delivered equipped with an air-lubrication system.

1. *3Module carrier
   Special heavy load carrier with roll-on, roll-off ramp way to transport thousand-ton prefabricated structures of plant facilities to be installed on oil/gas development sites or industrial locations.

NYK participates in the Green Flag Incentive Program that the Port of Long Beach has implemented to improve air quality.

These programs aim to reduce exhaust emissions from vessels by encouraging vessels to operate under 12 knots within a 20 or 40 nautical-mile zone.

NYK's compliance with the Long Beach program has been greater than 90 percent within the 40 nautical-mile zone since 2009.

The impact that fuel oil has on the environment and the ship can generally be improved through the use of fuel additives. Broken down by objective, these effects include: (1) fuel conservation, (2) prevention of engine and equipment problems, such as soiling and corrosion, (3) reduction of maintenance and upkeep, (4) cleansing of emission gases, and (5) reduction of air pollution by suppressing CO₂ emissions and particulate matter. Field experiments using commissioned ships indicated that the fuel additive YUNIC 555D improves fuel economy by 1.5% or more. In fact, this additive was created by Nippon Yuka Kogyo Co. Ltd., an NYK Group company, and because of the product's positive impact, it is being actively used for almost all of the vessels operated by NYK Group that use fuel oil with a sulfur content of 0.5% or higher^*4, which has higher sludge content.

1. *4Those applicable vessels are equipped with SOx scrubber system.
2. *5Sludge is semisolid mixture that does not dissolve in oil. When sludge precipitates, it becomes like thick asphalt.

NYK and Nippon Yuka Kogyo Co. Ltd. have been investigating the properties of VLSFO as one of the measures to comply with SO_x emission requirements, and in May 2019 developed the sludge-dispersing fuel oil additive Yunic 800VLS.
Yunic 800VLS is effective against most of deteriorated compliant fuel oil, and with taking account into present fuel problem situations, we feel our main target need to be changed to reduction of fuel for contribution of environmental protection, from sludge trouble prevention.
Since we were aware of it, the both companies had been developing theYunic 800VLS "grade-up" version, which is having not only more powerful sludge dispersion characteristics to cover the rest of stubborn deterioration fuel, but fuel consumption reductions.
Yunic 800Eco enhances sludge dispersion and improves combustion. In three fuel consumption ratio reduction tests conducted with compliant fuel oils in Japan and overseas, we observed fuel consumption was reduced by up to 1.2% compared to when the additive was not used, and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were also reduced.
We will continue to work to develop additives that are more fuel-efficient and versatile, while maintaining the current sludge dispersion effect, and contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions from ships.