Classification society ClassNK has issued approval in principle (AiP) for a bulk carrier concept design developed by Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. that can be retrofitted to run on ammonia, methanol, or LNG, and equipped with onboard carbon capture and storage systems (OCCS).

The certification confirms the feasibility of the vessel design from regulatory and safety perspectives, according to ClassNK.

The approval was granted based on ClassNK's Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels, Annex 1 Alternative Fuel Ready (Edition 3.0.1), which outlines requirements for vessels that do not use alternative fuels at construction but are designed and partially equipped to accommodate such fuels in the future. Requirements for OCCS-ready notation are included in the Guidelines for Onboard CO2 Capture and Storage Systems (Edition 2.0).

ClassNK reviewed the concept design against these guidelines before issuing the AiP after confirming compliance with the prescribed requirements.

The approval in principle process allows designs to be examined at an initial stage against existing regulations such as international conventions and ship classification rules. The certification serves as proof of conformity with requirements before a specific target ship is decided, and can prevent rework of regulatory aspects in later stages while shortening examination time at class registration.

The AiP was handed over during a ceremony attended by Junichi Man, managing director of Oshima Shipbuilding, and Masaki Matsunaga, executive vice president of ClassNK.

ClassNK stated it will continue to contribute to decarbonization initiatives through safety assessments.