Deploying safe ammonia bunkering in the Port of Rotterdam and beyond

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Learn more in our post-webinar discussion article.

The Port of Rotterdam (PoR) is a major global bunker hub,  the largest port in Europe, and one of Europe’s largest energy hubs, with about 13% of all energy utilized on the mainland passing through the port. By 2050, PoR aims to import up to 18 million tons of hydrogen. Various projects have already been announced in the port to help realize this target, with many focusing on ammonia imports. One of these is a recent ammonia bunker pilot facilitated by PoR.

In April 2025, the ship-to-ship ammonia transfer was successfully completed between the vessels Oceanic Moon and Gas Utopia, berthed at APM Terminals Maasvlakte. OCI supplied the ammonia, carried aboard Trammo’s vessels, and James Fisher Fendercare provided equipment and operational expertise. Bunker barge operator Victrol, the DCMR Environmental Protection Agency, Rijnmond Safety Region, and the Joint Fire Service were also involved to ensure smooth execution of the bunker transfer.

The pilot is one of many projects being tracked and mapped by The Getting to Zero Coalition, an industry-led platform being managed by the Global Maritime Forum. In July 2025, the Coalition will publish its annual mapping report, highlighting ammonia bunkering activities around the globe and the overall readiness of ammonia as a maritime fuel, plus the progress made on ammonia-fueled engines.

To discuss the recent bunkering pilot in Rotterdam, other relevant work underway at the Port, and the broader global landscape of ammonia bunkering activities, Duna Uribe (Senior Business Manager Clean Ammonia, Port of Rotterdam), Cees Boon (Sector Coordinator Safety, Port of Rotterdam), and Joe Boyland (Project Manager Decarbonization, Global Maritime Forum) joined AEA Technology Manager Kevin Rouwenhorst in conversation.