Developing ammonia maritime engines & fuel: a collaborative approach

On Wednesday 17 August, the latest episode of Maritime Ammonia Insights webinar centered around collaboration, leadership & Singapore: three critical elements in the maritime ammonia transition. We were joined by Peter H. Kirkeby (Principal Specialist, Promotion Manager and BDM dual fuel, MAN Energy Solutions) and Yi Han Ng (Director – Innovation, Technology & Talent Development, Maritime and Port Authority Singapore). You can watch a replay of the conversation on our YouTube channel, and Yi Han’s slides are available to download here.

With such a buzz around ammonia fuel for shipping, the discussion is full of questions around engine type, timelines, performance costs and safety. But no less important are intangible elements like leadership and collaboration, which MAN Energy Solutions demonstrates. MAN ES is involved with nineteen(!) different maritime ammonia initiatives, not least developing the world’s first 2-stroke, ammonia-fueled ship engine. Intersecting with some of those initiatives is another great collaborator and leader – the Maritime and Port Authority Singapore.

Timelines for engine development

Peter Kirkeby explained the multi-fuel context of MAN’s work, noting that their ammonia work has taken them to new places compared to other fuel types. This has allowed for an imminent timeframe for an engine demonstration (2023). The dependency upon collaboration for progressing topics such as safety and supply chain development is made clear. Areas such as regulation, standards and operational aspects sees MAN having conversations with new parts of a value chain. His presentation concluded with MAN’s expressed intention to put all the key parts in place, so that by 2024 signing a shipbuilding contract for an ammonia-fueled ship “makes sense”.

The role of Singapore port

Yi Han Ng highlighted a consortium approach to driving maritime decarbonisation. He underlined the significance of Singapore’s role, not least as it is the world’s largest bunkering hub, delivering more than 50 million tons of fuel in 2021. He covered Singapore’s Decarbonisation Blueprint 2050 which, through seven focus areas, details clear and internationally aligned goals and targets. Singapore is working in all the required areas from technology to finance, investing SGD$300 million over 10 years to make the necessary transition. Moreover, it is all being channelled through consortia efforts, ensuring all the enablers and barriers throughout the value chains are being identified and ticked off in good time. This includes vessel efficiency tools, demonstrating great systemic thinking at work.

The Q&A session from the moderator and audience takes the conversation in many diverse directions. The panelists openly discuss their reflections on the connection between timelines for development of the value chain elements, and important factors such as LCA methodology agreement. Safety is roundly discussed wherein a good level of confidence is expressed and the contrast of perspectives between port and tech providers is revealed.

After taking audience questions around technical details such as pilot fuels, lube oils, digitalisation, innovation and more, the webinar rounds off with the final comment from the panelists. Perhaps not surprisingly we hear collaboration being mentioned as one of the most essential levers for the maritime fuel transition and not least the introduction of ammonia maritime fuel.

Join us in two weeks for our next episode, where we hear from Japanese trading house ITOCHU. Takeo Akamatsu (General Manager – Green Innovation Business Unit, Machinery Company) joins us to discuss ITOCHU’s Joint Study Framework, and an upcoming FID decision on an ammonia-propelled bulk carrier. Register here, and submit your questions for Takeo in advance. See you on September 15 at 4PM JST!