BRITISH power company Drax has drawn up plans for the world’s first wood-powered cargo ship, saying the power source can help to cut greenhouse gas emissions from sea freight.

Drax, which operates a biomass power station in the UK, has signed a deal with three Japanese shipping companies to develop a “bioship” fuelled by wood chips instead of marine diesel. It hopes to see the first wood-fuelled cargo ship set sail by 2029.

The vessel would itself be used to ferry woodchips harvested by Drax from North American forests to new markets in Japan.

Forestry Journal: Drax has been criticised in some quarters for importing biomass from North American forests Drax has been criticised in some quarters for importing biomass from North American forests (Image: Supplied)

Drax and its Japanese partners said such ships would open the way to zero-emission shipping for many other cargoes.

Paul Sheffield, Drax’s chief commercial officer, said the company wanted to decarbonise its supply chain and become carbon negative by 2030. 

He said: “This is an important step in the development of the technology required to power and launch the world’s first bioship.

“This will support Drax’s decarbonisation goals but could also drive the innovation needed to transform shipping and cut carbon emissions and fuel costs in global supply chains.”

Under the memorandum of understanding, signed at the British Embassy in Tokyo, Drax will help develop an on-board biomass fuel plant designed to burn wood.

Forestry Journal: How the ship could look How the ship could look (Image: Supplied)

The new bioship would be built by Hiroshima-based Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and operated by NYK Line, a global shipping company with 811 cargo ships, and its subsidiary NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers (NBP). Kenichi Shibata, managing executive officer of Tsuneishi, called the project a “world first”.