Fortescue, LMG Marin and Eidesvik to launch ammonia-powered ships

By Julian Atchison on November 17, 2021

The MMA Leveque, which will be converted to run as an ammonia-powered ship within 12 months.
Click to learn more. The MMA Leveque, which will be converted to run as an ammonia-powered ship within 12 months. Source: MMA Offshore.

MMA Leveque

Fortescue Future Industries announced it will launch an ammonia-powered ship within the next twelve months. In collaboration with MMA Offshore, the MMA Leveque will be converted to run on near-100% ammonia fuel. As part of FFI’s net-zero by 2040 pledge, its entire fleet of trucks, locomotives and ships are undergoing a transition to operate on green fuels like hydrogen & ammonia. Earlier this year FFI’s Green Fleet Team successfully demonstrated successful combustion of an ammonia fuel blend in one of its locomotive engines.

MS Green Ammonia

Grieg Maritime and Wartsila have engaged naval architects LMG Marin to design the MS Green Ammonia. A final design concept is due by mid next year, and the project partners aim to have Approval in Principal from a class society secured by the end of 2022. The ammonia-powered ship will then be launched in 2023. The MS Green Ammonia will carry green ammonia produced in Berlevåg (far-north Norway) along the Norwegian coast as part of a “green ammonia ecosystem” that links together renewable energy generation with agricultural, industrial and power generation applications for ammonia.

Viking Lady & NS Fraya

Eidesvik Offshore's Viking Lady, which will be retrofitted with ammonia-powered fuel cells.
Click to learn more. Eidesvik Offshore’s Viking Lady, which will be retrofitted with ammonia-powered fuel cells. Source: Eidesvik.

Eidesvik Offshore, Aker BP and Alma (formerly Prototech AS) have entered into a new agreement to retrofit two existing vessels with ammonia fuel cell systems: Eidesvik’s Viking Lady and Aker BP’s NS Fraya (two offshore support vessels for offshore energy projects). Alma’s proprietary fuel cell technology is currently being developed for the Viking Energy project. 2 MW of ammonia-fed SOFC units will power the Viking Energy vessel, which is due to hit the water in 2023.