New Wood-Chip Carrier for Marusumi Paper Co. Delivered

Additionally Contributing to Oceanographic Research on Microplastics

Aug. 26, 2022

On August 23, Stellar Harmony, a dedicated wood-chip carrier, was delivered at the shipyard of Iwagi Zosen Co., Ltd., a member of the Imabari Shipbuilding Group.

The vessel will transport environmentally and socially conscious wood chips mainly from New Zealand, Australia, North America, and South America under a long-term contract between NYK and Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd.

Stellar Harmony comes equipped with hybrid fins (energy-saving equipment installed on the rudder to improve propulsion efficiency) and an energy-saving governor (equipment that saves fuel and reduces the load during main engine operation), as well as an eco-friendly main engine with specifications that improve fuel efficiency during low-load operation.

The ship will also pump in seawater along its routes to collect microplastics floating in the ocean. The collected microplastics will be unloaded and analyzed by the Chiba Institute of Technology and used for research to clarify the actual distribution of microplastics in the ocean.*

Vessel Particulars
Length overall: approx. 199.9 meters
Breadth: 32.24 meters
Deadweight tonnage: 49,506 metric tons
Cargo tank capacity: approx. 3,600,000 cubic feet
Builder: Iwagi Zosen Co., Ltd. (Imabari Shipbuilding Group)


Wood-chip carrier "Stellar Harmony".   Image by NYK.  

On February 3, 2021, NYK released the "NYK Group ESG Story," which aims to further integrate ESG into the company's management strategy and promotes activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs through business activities. On March 24, 2022, NYK released the updated "NYK Group ESG Story 2022," which introduces initiatives for integrating ESG into the Group's management strategies set forth in the "NYK Group ESG Story" and provides a partial explanation of the Group's sustainable growth strategy from a long-term perspective.

In order to strongly promote ESG management, the NYK Group will encourage new value creation as a sustainable solution provider not only through the safe and secure operation of eco-ships but also through contributions to oceanographic research on microplastics.

Overview of company
Marusumi Paper Co., Ltd.
Headquarters: Ehime, Japan
President & CEO: Tomoyuki Hoshikawa
Website: https://www.marusumi.co.jp/en/

NYK Group, press release