A recent boost in new projects and designs using ammonia as fuel suggest this is a viable future option for the container ship sector in its efforts to reach net zero, reports Riviera Maritime Media.
Potential for ammonia to contribute to net zero
Two new container ship designs using ammonia show the potential of ammonia for this sector. ABS provided the approval in principle (AiP) to both and acknowledged the great potential for ammonia to contribute to net zero, and the significant challenge of its toxic properties. Both studies will contribute to combating these challenges.
ABS awarded an AiP to Korea Maritime Consultants Co (KOMAC) for an ammonia-fuelled 3,600-TEU container ship design which addresses an increased need for small-scale, ammonia-fuelled vessels.
ABS conducted a comprehensive review and participated in the risk assessment of the ammonia fuel system in the AiP process to address safety and reliability.
Growing infrastructure for ammonia
In 2022, Seaspan and the MMMCZCS jointly initiated a project to better understand the challenges and opportunities of designing a large ammonia-fuelled container vessel. A concept design for a 15,000-TEU container vessel was developed in close collaboration with ship designer Foreship and classification society ABS. The project included defining the safety objective, the impact of ammonia as a fuel on vessel performance, completing a hazard identification qualitative risk assessment and developing the concept design.
As well as creating building blocks for safety, this case highlights the growing infrastructure for ammonia, as it is connected to the Singapore Ammonia Bunkering Feasibility Study consortium, focusing on developing and demonstrating an ammonia supply chain in Singapore.
Other container ship operators are also revealing an interest in ammonia. Ocean Network Express (ONE) has 20 13,000-TEU vessels on order, due for delivery in 2024-2025, that have ‘flex designs’, allowing them to be retrofitted to work with ammonia or methanol.
Zero-carbon fuel
At ONE’s recent press conference, its chief executive Jeremy Nixon said, “We know there is not enough certainty in terms of methanol availability and ammonia technology safety, but over the next 12-24 months we think we will see a breakthrough with methanol production and have the option to think about ammonia, so we have not decided yet – the jury is out.”
There have been developments in other areas too, which will be important for container ship operators looking into deploying ammonia as fuel. Engine manufacturer WinGD remains on track to deliver its first X-DF-A dual-fuel ammonia engines by Q1 2025, with the first vessels using the engine due to enter service a year later in 2026.
WinGD’s confirmation follows combustion tests conducted at the Swiss maker’s research facilities in December 2022. The company said it has made recent rapid progress in developing an engine concept capable of using the zero-carbon fuel.
It seems like ammonia has a lot of potential for the container ship sector and strides are being made to overcome the challenge of toxicity.
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Source: Riviera Maritime Media
