Growing buzz around ammonia

The container shipping industry seems to be shifting its focus from methanol-powered vessels to ammonia-fuelled ships as sustainability efforts intensify. Recent developments in ship design are highlighting the growing interest in ammonia-fuelled vessels in the sector, which have also sparked the interest of the world’s largest container shipping company MSC.

In September 2024, MSC, Lloyd’s Register (LR), Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI), MAN Energy Solutions (MAN-ES), and the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the design of an ammonia dual-fuel 8,200 TEU container ship. This partnership, announced during the SMM event in Hamburg, builds on a 2023 initiative that explored ammonia’s technical feasibility in container ships. The collaboration now moves into its second phase, integrating upcoming IMO guidelines to refine safety and operational standards for ammonia as a marine fuel.

For this next project phase, SDARI will prepare the consolidated specifications and design documentation of the ammonia dual-fuel variant, while LR and LISCR will verify that the design conforms with safety standards and rules relating to the usage of ammonia as a marine fuel. MAN-ES have delivered data for SDARI to carry out design of the engine room and ammonia fuel supply and emission abatement systems.

“We are pleased to continue our strong working relationship in this important project to develop and test the feasibility of an ammonia-fueled container ship. MSC is committed to sustainability and exploring different alternative fuel options and if they can be safely adopted and the impact they will have on vessel operation,” Giuseppe Gargiulo, Head of Newbuilding, MSC said.

“To achieve our industry’s decarbonisation goals, it’s essential that we thoroughly evaluate all fuel alternatives. Engaging in this collaboration supports our strategic goal of delivering decarbonisation solutions to our valued partners and reinforces the industry’s commitment to cutting emissions,” Bjarne Foldager, Head of 2-stroke, MAN Energy Solutions said.

Beyond MSC, other key industry players are also looking into ammonia-powered vessels. Seaspan Corporation has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from LR for its dual-fuel ammonia-powered feeder ship design. The 3,100 TEU feeder, developed by TECHNOLOG, is designed to use ammonia in its two-stroke propulsion engine. The project expands on a previous AiP announced in May, for an LNG-powered vessel design of the same specifications and also designed by TECHNOLOG, that can transition to ammonia during its operational lifecycle.

 “In this second phase, we have focused on ammonia as a next-generation fuel, considering safety, arrangement, and bunkering. Although ammonia has advantages, it also has challenges that need to be overcome so we can operate ammonia dual-fuelled ships safely and economically. Once again, we have partnered with LR and TECHNOLOG on this project as we seek creative and viable solutions to decarbonise shipping,” Peter Jackson, Senior Vice President of Assets and Technology at Seaspan Corporation, said.

Meanwhile, Korean Register has awarded AiP to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the company’s 9,300 TEU ammonia-fueled container ship. SHI has developed an entirely new structural layout and the vessel’s design which includes specialised fuel tanks, fuel supply systems, ventilation, and gas detection systems. KR verified the newly developed vessel’s design and ammonia fuel system, ensuring compliance with classification rules and international regulations, and granted AiP after confirming the integrity and safety of the entire system.

“Our 9,300 TEU ammonia-fueled container ship incorporates the leading eco-friendly technologies of SHI. We will continue to accelerate the development of carbon-neutral solutions to secure our competitive edge in the next-generation ship market,” JANG Haeki, Executive Vice President and CTO of SHI, said.

KR has also signed an MoU with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) to develop an enhanced ammonia fuel supply system. Under the deal, HD HHI will design key system configurations to integrate ammonia fuel into ammonia carriers, while KR will conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the system and grant an AiP.