Successful Propulsion and Manoeuvrability Trials by Fortescue’s Dual-fuelled Ammonia-Powered Vessel in the Port of Singapore
Fortescue, with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), government agencies, research institutes, and industry partners, has successfully completed propulsion and manoeuvrability trials of its Singapore-registered Fortescue Green Pioneer in the Port of Singapore.
2. This latest milestone follows the successful conduct of the world’s first dual-fuelled ammonia fuel trial in Port of Singapore by the Fortescue Green Pioneer in March 2024, in which the vessel received flag approval from the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) and the “Gas Fuelled Ammonia” notation by classification society DNV to use ammonia, in combination with diesel, as a marine fuel.
3. The approval and notation were awarded upon the completion of a series of fuel trials that were conducted over a period of seven weeks in February and March 2024 using five cubic metres (three tonnes) of liquid ammonia.
4. To facilitate this set of trials involving propulsion and manoeuvrability tests as part of the vessel’s ongoing sea trials, a further tranche of approximately 6.4 m3 (4.4 tonnes) of liquid ammonia was loaded on 23 April 2024 at Vopak Banyan Terminal, Jurong Island.
5. A designated test area along Raffles Reserved Anchorage was secured by MPA for the trials, and the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was set up at MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre for representatives of MPA, Fortescue, Vopak, research institutes, and government agencies to monitor the fuel loading and sea trial operations. Ammonia plume modelling and drone surveillance was also used by the EOC to support safety and incident planning and response.
6. The propulsion and manoeuvrability trials also included tests to validate the management of nitrogen-based emissions, and assessment of the vessel’s engine capability to operate on varying amounts of HVO in combination with ammonia.
7. As part of MPA’s efforts to strengthen maritime cybersecurity as vessels become increasingly digitalised and connected, MPA is also in discussion with Fortescue on the monitoring of info-comm technology and operational technology systems onboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer to develop resilience of vessels with alternative fuels against cyber threats.
