The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) has released its inaugural Impact Report, highlighting the significant role of collaborative initiatives in driving the maritime industry’s shift towards a sustainable, zero-emission future, reports Safety4Sea.
Urgent Action
The Center emphasizes the urgent need for maritime stakeholders to take action now to ensure the achievement of the following target outcomes across four key drivers by the mid-2030s, in order to facilitate maritime decarbonization:
- Regulation and policy: The establishment of enforceable regulations and policies that provide adequate incentives for the transition to decarbonization from economic, technical, and safety perspectives.
- Technology & infrastructure: The development and widespread availability of vessel and engine technologies that are compatible with decarbonization solutions, including energy efficiency measures. Additionally, the establishment of sufficient port and fuel bunkering infrastructure to support the use of sustainable maritime fuels and sustainable energy, ensuring that alternative fuels are available in adequate quantities.
- Market: The creation of a strong demand from end-customers for green or decarbonized shipping options, alongside the development of funding and financing mechanisms to drive the development and adoption of decarbonization solutions within the maritime industry.
- Adoption: The cultivation of the necessary capabilities and mindset among maritime players to enable the widespread adoption of decarbonization solutions at scale.
Ammonia Safety
Analysis conducted by the Center confirms the pivotal role of ammonia in the future landscape of alternative marine fuels. Notably, ammonia is already a widely produced and transported chemical globally, primarily used as a fertilizer.
However, the transition to utilizing ammonia as a fuel source onboard vessels introduces significant new challenges, primarily concerning safety. Ammonia is highly toxic, and leaks can pose a lethal risk. Therefore, effectively addressing these safety challenges is critical to unlocking ammonia’s potential for large-scale decarbonization within the shipping industry. The Center adopts a multidisciplinary approach to tackle these crucial safety risks and support the qualification process for ammonia as a viable alternative maritime fuel.
In collaboration with various partners, the Center has published comprehensive designs for the safe storage and handling of ammonia onboard vessels. Additionally, they have developed guidelines for the bunkering of ammonia in ports, recognizing the substantial risk of leaks during this process. The Center has also addressed human factors crucial for ensuring safe operations onboard vessels utilizing ammonia as fuel.
Building upon this foundational work, the Center has contributed to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) interim guidelines for the safety of ships using ammonia as fuel, which received approval from IMO bodies in 2024. Beyond publishing insights and guidance, the Center also convenes key stakeholders—including ammonia producers, shipping companies, class societies, and other relevant players—for an annual ammonia safety roundtable.
This roundtable serves as a platform for stakeholders to exchange the latest knowledge and learnings, identify upcoming challenges in the safe deployment of ammonia, and initiate collaborative projects aimed at further paving the way for its safe adoption as a marine fuel.
Furthermore, the Center actively drives key industry projects focused on demonstrating the safe utilization of ammonia as a marine fuel, both during onboard operations and during bunkering procedures.
Green Corridor Highlights
Chile: This project is recognized as one of the most advanced globally. Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies have been completed, and the project is now progressing towards securing financing and implementation. It encompasses several initiatives, ranging from the decarbonization of salmon production to the export of copper and ammonia from Chile.
South Korea to the US West Coast: A feasibility study for this corridor is in an advanced stage of maturity. The primary aim is to establish zero-emission transportation solutions for the South Korean automotive industry.
Namibia: The pre-feasibility study for a green corridor in Namibia has been completed. Current efforts are focused on exploring options for the production of alternative fuels, specifically ammonia, and mapping relevant port infrastructure.
Americas: Several distinct projects are under development within the Americas:
- Exploring the export of dry-bulk cargo from the Gulf of Mexico to South Korea and Japan using decarbonized shipping.
- Assessing the potential development of a green fuel hub in the Tacoma/Seattle/Vancouver region.
- Initiatives focused on decarbonizing cruise lines operating in Alaska to facilitate compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free. Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Safety4sea
