- A two-phase pathway is outlined for ammonia adoption.
- An initial fleet of ammonia-fuelled vessels is proposed.
- Scale-up phase to include global infrastructure and IMO rules.
DNV has recently released an insightful report titled “Ammonia in Shipping: Tracing the Emergence of a New Fuel.” This report highlights the primary challenges associated with adopting ammonia as a fuel and proposes a two-phase approach to integrating it into the shipping industry, reports DNV.
Two-Phase Pathway for Adoption
In the first phase, we can expect to see a groundbreaking fleet of ammonia-powered vessels, numbering in the dozens, manned by several hundred specially trained crew members. These ships will be supported by bunkering operations at about a dozen ports, which will provide a few million tonnes of ammonia. The second phase will focus on expanding this initiative with global infrastructure, increased production, and the establishment of regulations from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Industry Perspective on Ammonia’s Progress
Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime, said: “The groundwork for ammonia as a fuel is being laid, and the orderbook proves it’s no longer just a theoretical fuel. Ammonia’s toxicity and high cost remain a challenge. With targeted financial support mechanisms for a pioneering fleet, supply and infrastructure developments and robust safety regulations, we can progress. While we have seen great progress recently, the next years will determine the role of blue and green ammonia in the future fuel mix.”
Progress Since 2020
There have been some notable strides in using ammonia as a ship fuel, as highlighted in the report. We’ve seen a shift in safety frameworks, moving from risk-based approvals to interim guidelines set by the IMO, along with class rules that get updated every year.
On the technical side, things are looking up! There are currently 39 ammonia-fueled vessels on order, commercial engines are now available, and we’ve already seen the first demonstrations take place. Although the production of blue and green ammonia is currently on the lower side, confirmed projects in the pipeline are expected to boost output to 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030. Additionally, successful bunkering trials have been conducted at major ports such as Singapore and Rotterdam.
Need for Standardisation and Training
Linda Hammer, Principal Consultant at DNV and lead author, emphasised the importance of standardised frameworks: “Scaling up use of ammonia as ship fuel requires a framework of standardised solutions that can be easily adopted across the industry. The current risk-based approval framework must be replaced by prescriptive regulations mandated by the IGF Code, production needs to be increased, and more ports must be able to supply green and blue ammonia – requiring harmonization of port safety standards and dissemination of lessons learned. Standardized training is also essential to ensure sufficient competent crew.”
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Source: DNV
