MEPC 82 featured important progress in the ongoing development of the IMO’s “mid-term measures” to cut GHG emissions. States remain divided over the precise architecture of the financial mechanism, and the distribution of revenues received significant attention - particularly from states concerned about unjust or inequitable consequences of the energy transition.
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has released results from a new survey of over 2,000 workers across the maritime community. While a majority of workers indicate their willingness to sail on ammonia-fueled vessels, this support is contingent upon comprehensive training that addresses all concerns and operational aspects of working with ammonia. Live training, operational experience and proactive communication will all be required to increase confidence in the new fuel.
Liebherr and Italy-based Bruno Generators will embark on a joint development project exploring ammonia fuel for off-grid power generation in the mining sector. Building off “promising” results in Liebherr’s own internal trials with ammonia fuel, future applications could include power for heavy vehicles like electric excavators.
Approval of interim guidelines for the use of maritime ammonia fuel is anticipated at an upcoming IMO committee meeting in December, giving the shipping industry its first international standard for the safe operation of vessels using marine ammonia fuel.
One of the key steps in project development is the selection of the licensor for the renewable ammonia synthesis loop. For renewable ammonia projects, licensors including KBR, Topsoe, Thyssenkrupp Uhde, Casale, and Stamicarbon offer a range of technologies and services covering small to large-scale ammonia production. We explore these different technology offerings, as well as the growing list of projects where they are being deployed.
At last month’s MariNH3 conference in Nottingham, a series of keynotes laid out the opportunities and challenges ahead for marine ammonia fuel. Onboard ammonia cracking technologies are moving through testing phases and closer to commercialisation, vessel designers are working through the unique challenges of carrying ammonia fuel onboard, and emissions mitigation technology (in combination with adherence to existing Tier 3 standards) will be necessary to ensure that ammonia-powered vessels are more environmentally-friendly than conventional counterparts.
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions will now provide the ammonia fuel supply and cargo handling systems for all six of EXMAR’s dual-fuel vessels being built in South Korea. Meanwhile, Amogy and Mitsubishi have completed concept designs for two onboard systems: a powertrain combining ammonia cracking and hydrogen fuel cell for ships, and a hydrogen supply facility to provide hydrogen as pilot fuel to an ammonia-fueled engine.
