In Japan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment will invest $212 million in the domestic manufacture of ammonia engines, fuel tanks and components. In Korea, the national Export-Import Bank has committed to supporting ammonia-fueled newbuilds.
To explore the interim fuel guidelines and discuss their implications, we were joined by the IMO and Lloyd’s Register. Properly applied, the new fuel guidelines will ensure that ammonia systems achieve safety standards comparable to those of LNG or other alternative fuel systems, with special provisions made to ensure that ammonia’s hazards are effectively managed well within acceptable risk thresholds.
The construction of EXMAR’s first 46,000 m3, ammonia-powered midsized gas carrier vessel began in December last year, with the four ordered vessels on track for delivery in 2026, powered by dual-fuel WinGD engines.
A new round of Norwegian government funding has awarded a total of $68 million to a series of ammonia-fueled vessel projects, including a replacement freighter to service a key cargo and postal route to Svalbard, platform supply vessels, and the bunkering/distribution vessel MS Green Ammonia.
WinGD has received orders for its 52-bore X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engines for seven LPG/ammonia dual-fuel carriers. Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 24 modern vessels from Chinese shipyards, among them 12 ammonia-ready newbuilds.
The marine action plan urges the federal government to prioritize the implementation of electrolytic ammonia and methanol fuel in ocean-going vessels by 2050. A detailed action roadmap is presented, including infrastructure deployment, retrofits and upgrades to existing vessels.
The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee has approved interim guidelines for the use of ammonia fuel onboard vessels. Ship owners will also be able to voluntarily adopt code changes allowing the use of ammonia cargo as fuel, ahead of their entry into force next July. To unpack the new guidelines, the AEA will host the IMO and Lloyd’s Register at a public webinar in January.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has signed MoUs with two shipping companies to develop vessels that will feature a dual-fuel ammonia engine and full ammonia bunkering capabilities. The new vessels will help CIP transport and distribute ammonia from its planned production projects.
Meet the IMO to unpack the recently-approved interim guidelines for ammonia as a marine fuel. Ahead of the first ammonia-fueled vessels hitting the water in 2026, we learn about the development process at the IMO, what content the guidelines have, and will answer questions from the global shipping stakeholders.
Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) announced that it has completed test operations on its low-speed, 2-stroke engine, with installation and subsequent trial operations due to begin in April 2025. Installation will be onboard one of the first ammonia-fueled vessels to hit the water: the NYK-led midsized gas carrier project.