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Maersk, Keppel, and Fleet part of study to explore green ammonia bunkering in Singapore

Photo: FueLNG FueLNG LNG bunkering vessel launch (002).jpg
Singapore's first LNG bunker tanker built by Keppel O&M in China
AP Moller – Maersk, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Fleet Management, Sumitomo Corp, Yara International, and Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study setting up bunkering for green ammonia in the Port of Singapore.

Green ammonia is gaining increasing attention as a possible future fuel to decarbonise shipping operations and the study aims to be a pioneer in the establishing comprehensive supply chain for the ship-to-ship supply in the world’s largest bunkering port.

In terms of the roles of the various partners in the study Maersk would provide input specific to container vessels and the development of safe bunkering for containerships.

“A dual fuel ammonia engine is currently under development, but for green ammonia to fuel our vessels in the future we also have supply, infrastructure and safety related challenges to solve, not least when it comes to bunkering operations. We are pleased to work with renowned companies in this field to pave the way for Ammonia as a future fuel to decarbonise global shipping,” said Morten Bo Christiansen, VP and Head of Decarbonisation at AP Moller-Maersk.

Ship manager Fleet Management would work on developing bunkering procedures from the perspective of a crewing provider.

Kishore Rajvanshy, Managing Director at Fleet Management, said “We participate with our technical expertise across ship types to provide holistic solutions to sustainability, and alongside other alternative fuels such as methanol we feel ammonia will play a significant role.”

Keppel O&M would develop and design an ammonia-ready LPG bunkering vessel and lead coordination with local authorities in Singapore.

Chris Ong, CEO of Keppel O&M, said, “There are multiple routes to the decarbonisation of the marine industry and we are pleased to be able to leverage our expertise in engineering and bunkering to spearhead the development of cleaner marine fuels such as ammonia. This includes the design of ammonia bunkering and ammonia-powered vessels, as well as developing the value chain necessary for the adoption of ammonia.”

Keppel O&M is already involved in the LNG bunkering business in the FueLNG joint venture with Shell, and built Singapore’s first LNG bunker tanker at its yard in China.

The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping will provide a technology roadmap for ammonia as fuel.

Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO of Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, said: “It is key to understand the complete life cycle and safety implications of any future fuel across the supply chain. This project will address gaps in infrastructure and regulation and bring forward the solutions needed for safe operations and bunkering of ammonia in ports.”

Sumitomo and Yara will evaluate the setting up of a supply chain for green/blue/brown ammonia in Singapore.