LOTTE Fine Chemical has completed a port-to-ship ammonia bunkering operation at the Port of Ulsan, fueling EXMAR’s newly-launched Antwerpen vessel with 600 tons of ammonia fuel originating from Envision Energy’s renewable ammonia production plant in Chifeng, China. The ammonia fuel will power sea trials of the Antwerpen off the South Korean coast.
The LNG version of the feeder vessel was granted AiP in early 2024, followed by AiP for the ammonia-fueled version in September 2024. A new case study published by Lloyd’s Register now outlines the conversion pathway for the vessel, comprising four weeks in dry dock.
In our latest episode of Project Features, we explore EXMAR’s new ammonia dual fuel vessels, which are shortly to go through sea trials on ammonia fuel. We discuss safety engineering, engine testing, crew training, and “Risk Based Certification”: the approvals process novel vessels like these need to go through to demonstrate an equivalent level of safety to that achieved with conventionally-fueled vessels.
A full cargo load of ammonia was successfully transferred between mid-sized gas carrier vessels at the port of Sohar in northern Oman, helping pave the way for operations of new ammonia-fueled, ammonia-carrying vessels in EXMAR’s fleet.
New academic research from the University College of London recommends immediate acceleration of ammonia deployment, helping to establish marine ammonia fuel within “commercial niches” by the end of the decade. While LNG and methanol generate some benefits, they risk competing with – rather than enabling – the long-term solution that is ZNZ (zero or near-zero emissions) marine ammonia fuel.
Pilbara Ports and Yara Pilbara will collaborate on government and stakeholder advocacy, developing a training program for safe ammonia handling, and planning of necessary fueling infrastructure at the Ports of Dampier and Port of Port Hedland.
In our latest episode of Project Features, we explored progress at AM Green's AMGA-K1 renewable ammonia project in Kakinada, India, including architecture for renewable electricity supply, technology partners, RFNBO pre-certification and offtake agreements. India could potentially become a key global ammonia bunker fuel hub, and has an ecosystem of RFNBO-compliant ammonia production sites emerging.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has shipped two critical marine fuel system elements to Japan Engine Corporation for integration with J-ENG’s two-stroke ammonia engine, which passed a rigorous testing regime late last year. The engines will power NYK’s ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier vessels, with the first scheduled to enter service later this year.
Engine testing approval clears another hurdle for the vessels to hit the water and enter commercial service, with EXMAR planning sea trials “in the coming months”.
Beginning in Rotterdam, the newly-opened route visits Oslo, Brevik, and Bremerhaven to deliver fertilizer weekly, and will be serviced by the ammonia-powered Yara Eyde from later this year.