Partners agree continuation of landmark collaboration for ammonia dual-fuel container ship

Ammonia-Powered Container Ships: The Future of Green Shipping

Shipping experts from around the world are working together on a new project to create a more eco-friendly container ship. The goal is to make ships run on ammonia, which can help reduce harmful emissions. This project involves big names in the shipping industry, including Lloyd’s Register (LR), Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI), MAN Energy Solutions (MAN-ES), and the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR).

They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work on a design for an 8200 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) container ship that can use ammonia as fuel. This means the ship could run on both traditional fuel and ammonia, making it cleaner and better for the environment.

The Project’s Journey So Far

The project started in May 2023 and has already made progress in figuring out how ammonia could work as a fuel. The first part of the project involved designing the ship and making sure it could safely use ammonia as fuel. They worked hard to meet safety standards, using a Risk Based Certification approach. This ensured the design was safe and ready for the next phase of development.

Now, with the new MOU signed at LR’s Container Ship Forum in Hamburg on September 5, the team is moving to the next phase. They will use upcoming guidelines from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to improve the design even more. These new rules will help ensure ammonia can be used safely on ships.

Advancing ammonia fuel development without compromising safety

What’s Next?

SDARI, the design institute, will now work on finalizing the ship’s design. They will make sure all parts of the ship, like the engine room and ammonia fuel supply systems, are designed to use ammonia safely. MAN-ES will provide the necessary information for designing these systems, while LR and LISCR will ensure that the design meets all safety rules.

The project team believes that ammonia could be a key fuel for making ships greener. By using ammonia, shipping companies like MSC can reduce their carbon emissions and help fight climate change.

Industry Leaders Share Their Thoughts

Giuseppe Gargiulo, Head of Newbuilding at MSC, is excited about the project’s potential. He said, “We are pleased to continue our strong working relationship in this important project to develop and test the feasibility of an ammonia-fueled containership. MSC is committed to sustainability and exploring different alternative fuel options.”

Zhou Zhiyong, Vice President of SDARI, also shared his enthusiasm. He said, “This project is important for assessing the risks and opportunities of using zero-carbon fuels like ammonia.”

MAN Energy Solutions is also committed to this project. Bjarne Foldager, Head of 2-stroke at MAN-ES, said, “To achieve our industry’s decarbonization goals, it’s essential that we thoroughly evaluate all fuel alternatives.”

Nick Gross, Container Ship Segment Director at Lloyd’s Register, emphasized the importance of teamwork. “It’s fantastic to see the project team expand with the addition of LISCR. This project is making significant steps forward to achieving a sustainable container ship network.”

Finally, Thomas Klenum, Executive Vice President of LISCR, said, “The Liberian Registry is proud to join this project. Ammonia is one of the fuels that can help achieve net zero GHG emissions for international shipping.”

The Future of Shipping

This project shows how the shipping industry is working hard to create cleaner, greener ships. By focusing on ammonia as a fuel, they are taking important steps to reduce emissions and make the world’s oceans cleaner. As this project moves forward, we will likely see more and more ships powered by ammonia, helping the shipping industry meet its goals for decarbonization.

In the near future, ammonia-powered container ships could become a key part of the global shipping network, leading the way to a more sustainable future.