NYK Presents Model Vessel to ICS to Honor Chairmanship

To mark the Chairmanship of Masamichi Morooka, the International Chamber of Shipping was last night presented with a scale model of the award-winning NYK car carrier Auriga Leader, the world’s first solar-assisted vessel to be put into commercial service. The model was formally presented to ICS by Yasumi Kudo, President of NYK, in the presence of the ICS Chairman.

The 60,000-metric-ton vessel is fitted with 328 solar panels which can generate as much as 40 kilowatts of power. The car carrier fist set sail in December 2008 and since then engineers have further developed energy saving techniques to enhance her hybrid power. Large nickel hydrogen batteries can now store and capture the solar power, helping to minimize output fluctuations from the diesel power generator to produce a more stable and steady supply of energy throughout voyages.

The Auriga Leader was further updated to use low sulphur fuel oil to reduce air pollution and fitted with a ballast-water management system to prevent aquatic pollution.

Mr. Kudo told guests, “We at NYK would like to honor the ICS and commemorate Mr. Morooka’s chairmanship by presenting the gift to ICS of a specially designed NYK model vessel, the Auriga Leader.” He added, “We very much hope that the model of the Auriga Leader will serve as a reminder of what can be achieved through collaboration and inspire further environmental innovation within the shipping community.”