Envision Energy: successful bunker transfer completed in Dalian
By on July 28, 2025
Refuels COSCO’s Yuantuo 1 with renewable ammonia fuel
Click to learn more. COSCO’s Yuantuo 1 tugboat refuels with renewable ammonia fuel in Dalian, China. The fuel was provided by Envision from its newly-opened Chifeng production plant. Source: Envision Energy.
Shortly after commissioning and the official start of operations at its Chifeng renewable hydrogen and ammonia production plant, Envision Energy has announced the completion of a successful ammonia bunkering operation at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry’s terminal in Dalian. The Yuantuo 1 – a 5,500 horsepower tugboat that was refueled in China’s first-ever ammonia bunkering operation in January this year – was refueled this month, with the ammonia fuel produced in Chifeng and then transported to Dalian, demonstrating the whole supply chain.
This successful bunkering demonstrates how net zero fuels can scale from renewable power generation to hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping – a true breakthrough for green ammonia. We are proud that our green ammonia powered the world’s first bunkering of its kind. It’s a testament to Envision’s ability to deliver end-to-end net zero solutions that accelerate the replacement of fossil fuels with green energy in shipping and redefine what’s possible for the broader industrial transition.
Frank Yu, Senior Vice President of Envision Energy, in his organisation’s official press release, 25 July 2025
The Chifeng project is the world’s first project certified for green ammonia under the ISCC Plus certification, and has also received certification from Bureau Veritas that the ammonia produced is RFNBO-compliant, allowing it entry into European markets. COSCO’s Yuantuo 1 reportedly achieves a fuel substitution rate of 91% with ammonia, and has obtained the “Ammonia Fuel Tug” classification from China Classification Society. Dalian Port is now capable of offering biofuel, methanol, LNG, and ammonia bunkering services, making it a critical alternative marine fuels hub in northeast Asia.
Click to expand. The Global Maritime Forum has tracked thirteen different ammonia bunker trials across nine global locations, with insights to be published in an upcoming report. From Joe Boyland, The status of ammonia as a shipping fuel today (July 2025).
The bunker exercise now brings the global total to thirteen operations across nine locations (second for Dalian). As explained by the Global Maritime Forum in our recent Project Features webinar, these trials are getting closer and closer to replicating real-world bunkering conditions. They have contributed valuable learnings, including increasing Port Readiness Levels for ammonia bunkering, providing key technical insights, and highlighting the key engagement gaps.