Joint study underway in Singapore to explore use of ammonia as marine fuel

Photo: Dan Dimmock - Unsplash research.jpg
A joint study is underway in Singapore to explore the potential for ammonia to be used as a marine fuel.

ABS, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the Ammonia Safety and Training Institute (ASTI) are collaborating on a study on using ammonia as marine fuels in the port of Singapore, as well as exploring the supply, bunkering and safety aspects.

Titled Ammonia as a Marine Fuel in Singapore – Supply Chain, Bunker Safety, and Potential Issues, the joint study will look at safety protocols and possible gaps in the supply chain of ammonia as a marine fuel, specifically bunkering for ships.

“Ammonia is a fuel with significant potential for marine applications and ABS is leading the way in understanding challenges in the safe design and operation of ammonia-fuelled vessels. It is also clear that Singapore has the potential to play a critical role as a strategic downstream location to receive, store, consume or bunker ammonia,” said Panos Koutsourakis, ABS Director of Sustainability Strategy.

ExxonMobil, Hoegh LNG, MAN Energy Solutions Singapore, Jurong Port, PSA Singapore and Itochu Group with their partners, are initial project partners, contributing technical information about marine fuel handling, vessel to vessel transfer and bunkering in the port of Singapore.

Professor Jasmine Lam Siu Lee, Director, Maritime Energy &  Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence, NTU Singapore, said: “This joint study is timely as it is aligned with NTU Singapore’s Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development (MESD) Centre of Excellence’s focus on alternative fuel research for the maritime industry, and ammonia is a key potential marine fuel.

“The research effort is in tune with Singapore’s long-term maritime decarbonisation strategy, contributing to a more sustainable Maritime Singapore,” she said.

Brian Ostergaard Sorensen, Vice President and Head of R&D, Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, commented: “A suitable engine technology is, of course, key and MAN Energy Solutions already has a convincing track-record in developing engines running on alternative fuels. Indeed, we aim to deliver the first ammonia-fueled, two-stroke engine in 2024.”

The world’s first ammonia fuel-ready vessel, an ABS-classed suezmax, is now under construction in China for Greek shipowner Avin International.