Ammonia bunkering at the Port of Savannah
By on April 11, 2023
High-profile consortium to explore feasibility
The American Bureau of Shipping, A.P. Moller – Maersk, the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Sumitomo Corporation, Fleet Management Limited, Georgia Ports Authority, and US-based logistics providers Savage Services & TOTE Services will conduct a joint study exploring ammonia bunkering at the Port of Savannah. Located on the Atlantic coast, Savannah is one of the busiest ports in the US, and features the single largest container terminal in the country (Garden City Terminal).
The consortium aims to establish a comprehensive supply chain to allow ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering in Savannah. As well as confirming what extra infrastructure will be required, the study scope includes design of an Ammonia Bunkering Articulated Tug-Barge (AB-ATB) vessel. On the safety side, study findings will be used to formulate standards and operating procedures for the use of ammonia as a maritime fuel. For this task the consortium will leverage its own expertise, as well as engaging relevant government agencies and US-based experts.
Among the responsibilities of the individual consortium partners, Savage will lead domestic ammonia transport to Savannah. Savage is already a leading ammonia transporter in the US, and owns and operates an Articulated Tug-Barge vessel (the Abundance & Harvest) capable of transporting 22,000 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia. Savage also operates an extensive network of truck and rail transports throughout the US. TOTE Services will provide technical expertise to develop bunkering procedures for the new AB-ATB vessel. TOTE will leverage its experience in developing some of North America’s first LNG-powered vessels and bunkering infrastructure.
(We) recognize that ammonia presents a specific set of safety and technology challenges. We look forward to engaging with the other project members and sharing our industry-leading experience with ammonia-fueled vessels to support the study.
Panos Koutsourakis, VP (Global Sustainability) at American Bureau of Shipping in Fleet Management Ltd’s official press release, 31 Mar 2023
We see green ammonia as a fuel with potential in the long term for commercial shipping. However, safety and environmental challenges related to ammonia’s toxicity must be addressed in the short term, and we must get a solid understanding of the cost of bunkering ammonia. This study will help our industry better understand the full spectrum of practical and safety considerations when dealing with green ammonia as a fuel.
Morten Bo Christiansen, Head of Energy Transition at A.P. Moller-Maersk in Fleet Management Ltd’s official press release, 31 Mar 2023
The Port of Savannah project is a great logistical entry point for qualifying how ammonia could be made available. Furthermore, it provides a local and regional use case for commercial activation in the US East Coast.
Claus Winter Graugaard, Chief Technology Officer at Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping in Fleet Management Ltd’s official press release, 31 Mar 2023
We embark on our ambition to build the first Ship-to-Ship ammonia bunkering base in the US in addition to Singapore and Oman, which highlight our commitment to offer our customers the best available and technologically proven solution to reduce the emission footprint from maritime transport.
Koji Endo, General Manager of Energy Division at Sumitomo Corporation in Fleet Management Ltd’s official press release, 31 Mar 2023