According to the Mærsk-McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS), the implementation of alternatives to conventional fossil-based fuels is key to the decarbonisation of the global shipping industry.
Ammonia is part of the future maritime fuel mix, as it can be combusted with almost zero CO2 emissions. However, using ammonia as a shipping fuel involves safety hazards: primarily toxicity, but also onboard fires and explosions. Therefore, it is crucial to understand these risks and the safeguards that can be implemented to mitigate them.
Ammonia has been identified as a promising alternative shipping fuel in the mid to long term, and development of ammonia-fuelled marine engines and ship designs is ongoing. However, the characteristics of ammonia, including its toxicity and gaseous nature, mean that its implementation as a marine fuel will require much more than technical readiness: the industry will also need a strong focus on safety, human factors, and new training requirements relating to ammonia as a fuel.
To map maritime industry perceptions of ammonia as a marine fuel, MMMCZCS undertook a survey of over 2,000 respondents across the maritime community to better understand their perceptions, concerns, and requests relating to ammonia as a marine fuel. The survey reached respondents covering a range of different ages, positions, vessel segments, and level of experience with gaseous fuels or ammonia as cargo. Over half (58.6%) of the total respondents agreed that they would be willing to sail on or work with ammonia-fuelled vessels, while 24% were unsure and 12% reported that they would not be willing. More specifically, 59% of seafarers and 57% of ashore personnel who responded to the survey agreed that they would be willing to work with ammonia.
While more than half of the respondents were willing to sail on or work with ammonia-fuelled vessels, these respondents nevertheless raised some specific concerns, especially regarding training and safety.
There are several initiatives in the industry developing bunkering standards for ammonia. However, lack of alignment of knowledge carries a risk of increased complexity and delays in implementation, further leading to delays in uptake of ammonia as a marine fuel. Lack of coordination among these work streams and lack of alignment of knowledge creates a risk that competing standards may be developed. This would lead to an increase in complexity and potential bunkering interface cost, as well as a delay in the implementation of ammonia as maritime fuel. MMMCZCS has contributed to bunkering guidelines developed by SGMF.
To guide the regulatory process around developing interim guidelines of ammonia as a fuel, the MMMCZCS has mapped the technical solutions available to mitigate risks of handling ammonia onboard leading to inherently safer ship designs.
MMMCZCS is involved in a number of projects leading to ammonia trials, including the EU funded MAGPIE project led by the Port of Rotterdam (PoR); the Singapore Ammonia Bunkering feasibility study SABRE; and the Savannah Ammonia Bunkering feasibility study, which expands the work and knowledge from SABRE. MMMCZCS is part of a consortium of partners looking to develop bunkering infrastructure for ammonia on the US east coast.
Image: Ammonia-fuelled ship concept (credit: MMMCZCS/Nordic Innovation)
