The development of ammonia-fueled ships took another step
forward with the announcement this week that Lloyd's Register (LR) has granted
an Approval in Principle (AiP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for an
ammonia-fueled tanker design. It is the latest development among the competing
projects seeking to commercialize ammonia as a fuel source for the maritime
industry.
Ammonia is among the zero-carbon fuels that are being
considered by maritime stakeholders for the future of the industry as they work
toward the IMO’s declared goal of halving the 2008 levels of greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions by 2050. There is a widely held belief in the industry that
ammonia may be a critical fuel source for the future of the maritime industry
and currently numerous research efforts are underway seeking technologies for commercial
application.
In its 2020 Energy Prediction report, the International
Energy Agency forecast that the use of ammonia and hydrogen as vessel fuels
would grow to account for 60 percent of marine fuels by 2060. Similarly, BP
forecast in its 2020 energy prediction report that non-hydrocarbon fuels,
including ammonia, hydrogen, and biofuel, would increase to 85 percent of
2018’s total energy amount by 2050.
“LR is working with leading industry partners to make
deep-sea zero-carbon vessels a reality within this decade,” said LR Group CEO
designate and Marine and Offshore Director Nick Brown. “Shipping needs action
not words to deliver on the IMO’s 2050 GHG ambitions and this challenge calls
for collective action and industry collaboration. Following the announcement of
the ammonia-fueled tanker joint development project in January, we are
delighted that SHI has made steady progress on the fuel gas supply system and
detailed ship design.”
Comment on the awarding of the AiP, SHI said it will proceed
with its work on the development of a relevant fuel gas supply system as well
as detailed ship designs. Its goal is to commercialize these developments by
2024. In January 2020, MISC Berhad, Samsung Heavy Industries, Lloyd’s Register,
and MAN Energy Solutions announced that they would work together on a joint
development project to develop the ammonia-fueled tanker.
The competition to develop commercial designs that use
ammonia-fueled marine engines is progressing with a number of competing
projects. In July, Lloyd’s Register also issued an Approval in Principle (AIP)
for an ammonia fuel-propelled design to a joint venture project with the Korea
Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.
Among the other initiatives underway to develop ship designs
is an R&D project announced in July involving NYK Line, Japan Marine United
Corporation, and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). Their goal is the commercial
development of an ammonia-fueled ammonia gas carrier (AFAGC) and an ammonia
floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB). A few weeks ago, Japan’s
Nippon Yusen Kaisha, IHI Motor Co., and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai announced that they
have signed a joint R&D agreement for the commercialization of an ammonia
fuel tugboat.
The major engine manufacturers are also working on R&D
projects developing ammonia-fueled power projects
To meet the IMO’s goal, it is believed that zero-carbon
vessels need to enter the world fleet by 2030.