Marine ammonia fuel systems, tanks, charters and vessel AiPs
By on February 14, 2024
Wärtsilä, MAN Cryo: fuel supply systems
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions will deliver the fuel supply system for two new ammonia-fueled, mid-sized gas carriers being built for Exmar at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyards in Korea. Dual fuel engines for the vessels will be provided by WinGD, with the vessel due for delivery in 2026. Wärtsilä’s delivery (scheduled for 2025) will include:
…the Liquid Ammonia Fuel Supply System along with process engineering and dynamic simulation. The system is skid mounted with low- and high-pressure fuel pumps, controls for fuel pressure and temperature, and heat exchangers.
Delivery details from Wärtsilä’s official press release, 8 Feb 2024
Meanwhile, MAN Cryo has been awarded an Approval in Principle from DNV and Bureau Veritas for its ammonia fuel-supply system design. The system was developed in cooperation with China-based Yada Green Energy Solutions, an organisation MAN has previously worked with on LNG and methanol marine fuel technologies.
ClassNK: fuel tanks
Click to learn more. GSC’s prismatic ammonia fuel tank design, which has been awarded AiP by ClassNK. Source: ClassNK.
In Japan, ClassNK has awarded AiP for the design of a “prismatic” ammonia fuel tank for container vessels. The tank was developed by the Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships (GSC), a Japanese consortium that released its first ammonia-fueled vessel design in early 2022. The tank fulfils requirements for the IMO Type B independent tank standard, and the prismatic design maximises fuel volume for a given space (compared to cylindrical designs).
Mitsui OSK Lines, Yara: carrier vessel chartered in APAC
Click to learn more. The ammonia carrier Green Pioneer, which has been chartered by Yara Clean Ammonia for transportation services in the Pacific region. Source: Mitsui OSK Lines.
The MOL-managed vessel Green Pioneer has been chartered by Yara Clean Ammonia for the transportation of ammonia, mainly in the Pacific region. Anticipating a significant increase in future ammonia demand, the pair have been working on relevant projects since 2022. In the long term, both organisations aim to actively “expand their business” to build an ammonia supply chain. The 34,500 m3 capacity vessel arrived in Japan late last year.
Masdar and CMA CGM: strategic fuel supply partnership
Masdar and French container shipping giant CMA CGM have launched a long-term partnership for a “green alternative fuel supply”. By 2028, CMA CGM plans to have 119 ships in fleet able to run on alternative fuels including methanol and ammonia, with a gradual phase-in of vessels to start in 2025.
It is our belief that global maritime is one of the most strategic markets for green hydrogen and synthetic fuels are one of the fastest, most rewarding market segments. This agreement aligns with our “smart-first-mover” approach to deliver projects with strategic partners in the UAE and across the world.
Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, Masdar Chief Green Hydrogen Officer in his organisation’s official press release, 30 Jan 2024
To CMA CGM, the importance of the energy mix lies in our desire to be at the forefront of innovation for sustainable shipping. By being ‘energy agnostic’, we firmly believe in diversifying energy sources for our ships.
Christine Cabau Woehrel, CMA CGM Group Executive Vice President in charge of Assets and Operations in Masdar’s official press release, 30 Jan 2024
Vessel orders and AiPs
Click to learn more. ONE and Nihon Shipyard’s 3,500 TEU, ammonia-fueled container vessel design, which was awarded AiP by DNV. Source: ONE.
The past two months have also seen a series of ammonia-fueled vessel orders and AiPs:
- Dorian LPG will add a dual-purpose, Very Large Gas Carrier / Ammonia Carrier to its fleet in late 2026.
- Qatar Gas Transport Company (who owns one of the world’s largest LNG-carrying fleets) will add four Very Large LPG/ Ammonia Gas carriers to its fleet, each with a capacity of 88,000 m3. Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries will construct the vessels in Korea.
- Ocean Network Express (ONE), whose 3,500 TEU container ship design was awarded AiP by DNV.
- And three AiPs awarded by China Classification Society to the China State Shipbuilding Corporation: a 49,700 m3 oil/chemical tanker, a 16,000 TEU container vessel and an 88,000 m3 Very Large Ammonia Carrier.