Fortescue’s Ammonia-Powered Vessel Wraps Up Sea Trials in Singapore
With support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and partners, Fortescue’s dual fuel ammonia-powered Fortescue Green Pioneer has successfully completed propulsion and manoeuvrability testing at the Port of Singapore. The vessel is registered in Singapore.
The trials were conducted over ten days, from April 23, 2024 to May 2, 2024, using diesel and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a second-generation biofuel, together with 6.4 m3 (4.4 tonnes) of liquid ammonia.
MPA secured a designated test area along Raffles Reserved Anchorage for the trials, and officials from MPA, Fortescue, Vopak, research institutes, and government agencies set up an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre to oversee 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. This set of trials can be enhanced to support the sea trials of planned ammonia-fueled vessels under the Singapore Registry of Ships prior to delivery if required.
The 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
The manoeuvrability and propulsion tests come after the Fortescue Green Pioneer’s dual-fueled ammonia fuel trial in the Port of Singapore in March 2024, during which the ship was granted flag approval by the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) and the classification society DNV’s “Gas Fueled Ammonia” notation, allowing it to use ammonia in conjunction with diesel as a marine fuel.
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 5 cubic metres (3 tonnes) of liquid ammonia.
The ammonia storage systems, related piping, gas fuel supply system, modified engines, and seaworthiness of the ship were all tested while the Fortescue Green Pioneer was at anchor.
The monitoring of operational technology systems and information communication technology onboard the Fortescue Green Pioneer is being discussed by MPA and Fortescue as part of MPA’s efforts to fortify maritime cybersecurity as vessels become more digitalized and networked. This will help to build the resilience of vessels using alternative fuels against cyber threats.
The Fortescue Green Pioneer is anticipated to be a major factor in raising awareness of the necessity for the shipping sector worldwide to implement solutions like green ammonia in the upcoming months.
