What NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers does

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. (NBP) is a Tokyo-headquartered Japanese shipping company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line), formed on October 1, 2013 through the merger of NYK-Hinode Line Ltd. and NYK Global Bulk Corporation. The company traces its heavy-cargo marine heritage to Hinode Kisen, established in 1912. NBP operates a fleet of approximately 150 vessels — comprising roughly 110 bulk carriers ranging from handy to handymax class (12,000–64,000 DWT) and approximately 40 MPP, heavy-lift, and module carriers — serving industrial commodity and project-cargo shippers across roughly 400 ports worldwide. Three service lines define the offering: Bulker Services (dry-bulk transport of coal, copper concentrate, nickel ore, salt, cement, grain, fertilizer, and steel products); Projects Services (heavy-lift and module transport, including MV Katori and MV Kifune with 800mt tandem lifting capability and MV YAMATAI/YAMATO self-propelled deck carriers); and Semi-Liner Services with scheduled routes spanning Intra-Asia, Asia-India, Asia-Middle East, Asia-Europe, Asia-Americas, and South Pacific.

Technically, NBP operates a differentiated fleet incorporating low-carbon dual-fuel propulsion (M/V Green Future running on methanol, with ammonia dual-fuel handymax newbuilds in development), IoT-based cargo hold environmental monitoring, Anti-Rolling Tank systems for heavy-weather module operations, and air-lubrication hull systems on deck carriers. Green-steel (JFE JGreeX) is being adopted for newbuilds to address Scope-3 emissions. Revenue is generated primarily through voyage and time-charter contracts, with recurring revenue from multi-year and multi-voyage arrangements including a 15-year salt transport time charter with Baja Bulk Carriers; large enterprise counterparties include BHP, CODELCO, Mitsubishi, HMM, and JFE Steel, alongside energy and LNG project cargo clients. The company maintains ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications and pursues enterprise field sales via a global office network (Tokyo HQ, Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Jakarta, Gurugram, Singapore, Antwerp, Secaucus, Houston, Santiago), supplemented by participation in Breakbulk Europe/China and WIND EXPO industry events.

Name

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers

Legal name

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd.

Website

https://nbpc.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. is a Tokyo-based, wholly-owned NYK Line subsidiary operating ~150 specialized vessels (bulkers, MPP, heavy-lift, and module carriers) across ~400 ports, serving enterprise customers in mining, steel, energy, and project cargo with a growing focus on low-carbon dual-fuel shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Shipping Services

NAICS

Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation (48311)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Dry Cargo Carriers (Capesize/Panamax/Supramax/Handysize) (TLADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project & OOG/Breakbulk Ocean Forwarding (Out-of-Gauge, RoRo) (TLACABAH), Oil & Gas / Energy Project Transport (Rigs, Pipe, Modules) (TLADAGAE)

Keywords

• Dry bulk shipping
• Heavy-lift cargo
• Module cargo transport
• Multipurpose vessel chartering
• Breakbulk project cargo

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dry Bulk Freight and Charter Services: NBP operates approximately 110 bulkers and 40 MPP/heavy-lift vessels, generating revenue through freight contracts and time/voyage charter arrangements for transporting coal, copper concentrate, nickel, salt, cement, grain, fertilizer, logs, steel products, and other bulk commodities globally.
2. Project Cargo Transportation: Specialized transport services for heavy-lift, module, and project cargo including wind turbines, plant equipment, and industrial modules. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with engineering firms and energy companies, often involving long-term multi-voyage agreements.
3. Semi-Liner Services: Scheduled semi-liner services across multiple trade routes (Intra-Asia, Asia-India, Asia-Middle East, Asia-Europe, Asia-America, South Pacific, etc.) operating 15-20 MPP vessels for mixed cargo including containers, vehicles, steel products, and bulk cargo. Revenue from freight charges per voyage/tonnage.
4. Time Charter Arrangements: Revenue from time-chartering vessels to customers. Example: methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier 'Green Future' chartered from Kambara Kisen Co., Ltd., with NBP operating the vessel for customers such as BHP.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. operates a specialized ocean shipping business providing global maritime transportation of dry bulk commodities (coal, copper concentrate, nickel, salt, cement, grain, fertilizer, logs, steel products), heavy-lift and oversized project cargo, and self-propelled module cargo using a fleet of approximately 110 bulkers and 40 multipurpose/heavy-lift/module vessels. The company is the only Japanese carrier operating heavy-lifters and deck carriers, with over 100 years of heavy-cargo marine expertise, and delivers services through three business lines: Bulker Services, Projects Services (Heavy Lifter and Module Services), and Semi-Liner scheduled services.

Product overview

NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd. is a Japanese shipping company providing maritime transportation services through three core business segments: Bulker Services (bulk cargo transportation using handysize to handymax vessels), Projects Services (heavy-lift and module transportation via specialized vessels including MV Katori/Kifune with 800mt capacity and MV YAMATAI/YAMATO deck carriers), and Semi Liner Services (scheduled routes covering Intra Asia, Asia-Oceania, Asia-India, Asia-Middle East, Asia-Europe, Americas, and South Pacific). The company operates approximately 40 MPP vessels including heavy lifters and module carriers, and approximately 110 bulkers, transporting diverse cargo including coal, copper, nickel, steel products, wind turbines, plant equipment, and project cargo across global trade routes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bulker Services Global ocean transportation of dry bulk commodities including coal, copper concentrate, nickel, salt, cement, grain, fertilizer, logs, forest products, coke, manganese chromium steel, and steel products using handysize to handymax bulk carriers ranging from 12,000 to 64,000 deadweight tonnes. The service targets industrial commodity shippers and trading companies worldwide.
• Projects Services (Heavy-Lift and Module) Specialized heavy-cargo transportation services for energy companies, EPC contractors, and industrial customers requiring transportation of heavy-lift and module/project cargo. Encompasses Heavy Lifter Service (MV Katori/MV Kifune with 800mt tandem lifting) and Module Services (MV YAMATAI/MV YAMATO self-propelled deck carriers). NBP is the only Japanese shipping company operating heavy lifters and deck carriers.
• Semi-Liner Service Scheduled semi-liner services across multiple trade routes (Intra-Asia, Asia-Oceania, Asia-India, Asia-Middle East, Asia-Europe, Europe-West Africa, Asia-America, and South Pacific) using 8,000 to 30,000 DWT multipurpose conventional vessels. Operations include 15-20 MPP vessels on Intra-Asia routes and various scheduled vessels for other regions.
• Heavy Lifter Service Transportation of super heavy and tall cargo using dedicated heavy-lift vessels. MV Katori and MV Kifune feature 800mt tandem lifting capacity. The chartering service offers MPP vessels ranging from 13,000 DWT to 30,000 DWT including I, IZ, KU, MU, MA, MI, and N series. Targets heavy industrial cargo including wind turbine components, plant equipment, and other oversized project cargo.
• Module Services Self-propelled deck carrier service for module transportation. MV YAMATAI and MV YAMATO feature air-lubrication systems for reduced fuel consumption. Services include multi-voyage contracts for LNG projects (Pluto LNG, Gorgon, Ichthys, YAMAL LNG, TCO, TPC Offshore Windfarm) and other industrial megaprojects.
• South Pacific Link (SPL) Service Scheduled multipurpose semi-container vessel service between Far East and South Pacific islands operating 72-day round voyages at 18-day intervals. Ports include Kaohsiung, Busan, Kobe, Nagoya, Yokohama, Tarawa, Honiara, Port Vila, Noumea, Lautoka, Suva, Apia, Pago Pago, Papeete, and Nukualofa.
• Green Future - Methanol Dual-Fuel Bulk Carrier Service Low-carbon ocean transportation service using the methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier 'Green Future' (LOA 199.99m, deadweight ~65,700 MT, cargo hold capacity ~81,500 m3), operated for BHP Group's copper concentrate transportation from Chile to China. Achieves approximately 65% GHG emission reduction on a Well-to-Wake basis using low-carbon methanol fuel certified under ISCC EU mass balance method - the world's first oceangoing bulk carrier use of low-carbon methanol fuel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier 'Green Future' reduces GHG emissions by approximately 65% on Well-to-Wake basis compared to conventional fuel (world's first for oceangoing bulk carrier)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kambara Kisen Co., Ltd. (神原汽船)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 May 2025NBP charters the methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier 'Green Future' from Kambara Kisen Co., Ltd. on a time-charter basis. The vessel was delivered at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding (Fukuyama, Hiroshima) in May 2025 as the first NYK Group methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier. Kambara Kisen provides the vessel while NBP operates it for customers including BHP Group.
• BHP Group (BHP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NBP operates the methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier 'Green Future' for BHP's copper concentrate transportation from Chile to China, achieving world's first use of low-carbon methanol fuel on an oceangoing bulk carrier with ~65% GHG reduction on Well-to-Wake basis. BHP is the cargo owner and beneficiary of the decarbonized transport solution.
• Hinagata Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (檜垣造船)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024NBP contracted Hinagata Shipbuilding (Imabari, Ehime Prefecture) to build two coastal newbuild vessels for delivery in September and December 2024, to be constructed using JFE Steel's green steel material.
• Enaex (Chile)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2024Enaex and NYK Group's NBP entered a joint study for supply of green ammonia for transportation of copper products from Chile to the Far East. This follows the November 2022 CODELCO partnership and November 2023 ammonia bulker MoU to develop a complete carbon-free copper product supply chain.
• Bansei Co., Ltd. (阪和興業)minorOthers · 9 February 2024NBP sourced approximately 350 tons of ISCC-certified biofuel from Bansei Co., Ltd. for a continuous biofuel usage trial on coastal MPP vessel MV Matsushiro, commencing February 2024. The fuel (VLSFO base with up to 24% waste cooking oil-derived biofuel) provides approximately 20% CO2 reduction compared to conventional fuel.
• Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (大島造船所)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2023Oshima Shipbuilding, NBP, and Sumitomo Corporation signed an MoU in November 2023 to jointly study, design, and construct the world's first ammonia dual-fuel handymax bulk carrier (10-15 vessels). This would be the first handymax bulker with ammonia dual-fuel capability, targeting delivery in the late 2020s.
• Sumitomo Corporation GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2023Sumitomo Corporation, NBP, and Oshima Shipbuilding signed an MoU for the joint development of ammonia dual-fuel handymax bulk carriers for CODELCO copper product transportation. Sumitomo provides commercial and financial expertise for the vessel fleet development.
• JFE Steel CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2023NBP adopted JFE Steel's green steel material 'JGreeX' for two newbuild coastal vessels (scheduled delivery September and December 2024 at Hinagata Shipbuilding, Ehime). These are the first NYK Group vessels built entirely with green steel, enabling Scope-3 Category 2 emission reductions.
• HMM Co. Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2022NBP and HMM agreed to collaborate on Far East to Middle East multipurpose heavy-lift vessel services, aiming for efficient utilization of both companies' MPP vessel fleets. HMM would deploy 5-6 multipurpose heavy-lift vessels on the route, complementing NBP's existing service.
• CODELCO (Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2022NBP and CODELCO signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2022 for joint development of decarbonized ocean transportation of copper products. Based on this, in November 2023, NBP, Oshima Shipbuilding, and Sumitomo Corporation signed an MoU to study, design, and construct the world's first ammonia dual-fuel handymax bulk carrier fleet (10-15 vessels) for Chilean copper export to Far East.
• Licvem Shipping & Trading ApS (LVS社)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2016NBP and Licvem Shipping & Trading ApS (Copenhagen-based Danish charter operator) established joint venture company Licvem NBP ApS (LBP) in May 2016. NBP holds 49% of LBP shares. LBP operates 3-8 MPP vessels for break bulk, dry bulk, general cargo, project cargo, IMO, and RORO cargo primarily on Europe-Africa routes. LBP enables stable monthly deployment of 2-3 vessels matched to cargo volume on West Africa routes.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spliethoff: Dutch shipping company combining multipurpose/heavy-lift (via subsidiary BigLift Shipping) and dry bulk services. Spliethoff's dual-segment model of bulkers plus heavy-lift/MPP vessels most closely mirrors NBP's combined Bulker + Projects Services structure, serving overlapping industrial customer bases in mining, steel, and energy sectors.
• Star Bulk Carriers: Greek-based publicly-listed dry bulk major operating approximately 115 Newcastlemax/Capesize/Post-Panamax/Kamsarmax/Ultramax/Supramax/Handymax vessels. Direct competitor for NBP's Bulker Services segment serving global commodity shippers transporting iron ore, coal, copper concentrate, grains, and fertilizers.
• BBC Chartering: German-based global market leader in project cargo and breakbulk shipping, operating a fleet of multipurpose and heavy-lift vessels. BBC Chartering directly competes with NBP's Projects Services for tenders from EPC contractors, mining majors, and energy companies transporting wind turbines, plant modules, and oversized industrial equipment worldwide.
• BigLift Shipping: Dutch heavy-lift specialist (subsidiary of Spliethoff) operating a fleet of heavy-lift vessels including 800mt-class ships. Direct competitor in the heavy-lift segment for wind energy, oil & gas, and infrastructure projects, with overlapping capability profile and similar target customers.
• Oldendorff Carriers: German family-owned dry bulk shipping major operating one of the world's largest fleets of bulk carriers (Capesize, Panamax, Supramax, Handysize). Competes with NBP's Bulker Services for global commodity shipping contracts, particularly in Asia-Europe and trans-Pacific trade lanes.
• Diana Shipping: Greek dry bulk shipping company operating Capesize, Kamsarmax, Panamax, and Post-Panamax vessels on time charter and voyage charter arrangements. Competes with NBP for global bulk cargo contracts across major commodity trade routes, with a similar time-charter oriented revenue model.
• Pacific Basin Shipping: Hong Kong-listed dry bulk specialist operating ~115 Handysize/Supramax/Ultramax vessels with selective project cargo exposure. Comparable to NBP in focus on smaller-bulk segments (handysize to handymax) and Asian trade route density, including intra-Asia and Asia-Pacific semi-liner style services.

Emerging players

• SAL Heavy Lift: German heavy-lift specialist operating a fleet of vessels with up to 1,200t crane capacity, including the innovative Type 214 vessel. Competes with NBP's heavy-lift service for the most demanding oversized cargo projects in offshore energy, infrastructure, and industrial equipment sectors.
• Hansa Heavy Lift: German-based project cargo and heavy-lift carrier operating multipurpose vessels. Competes with NBP's Projects Services for breakbulk, project cargo, and oversized shipments, particularly in offshore wind, oil & gas, and industrial machinery transport.

Broad incumbents

• COSCO Shipping Heavy Transport: Subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Group (Chinese state-owned shipping conglomerate) operating semi-submersible heavy-lift vessels and module carriers. Part of one of the world's largest shipping groups, COSCO Shipping competes with NBP for large energy and infrastructure projects (LNG modules, offshore wind) while also offering broader container and bulk services through the parent group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nyk-bulk-projects-carriers

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers