Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) for a 10,000m3 ammonia bunkering vessel developed by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), a key result of a joint development project (JDP) established earlier in 2023 to meet the global demand for safe design and operation of alternative fuel bunkering vessels.
HMD’s vessel design incorporates two cylindrical type C tanks, a reliquefication plant, a loading arm with easy manoeuvrability for safe operations and includes both single and twin-screw variants with different propeller options.
Ammonia bunkering is widely anticipated to become a significant part of the maritime energy transition during the mid to late part of the decade and the development of vessels with the capability to refuel ammonia ships will be crucial to ensuring its uptake across the board by ship owners and operators.
LR is currently undertaking key feasibility studies into using clean ammonia to refuel ships at ports in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and was a founding member of The Castor Initiative, a global coalition to build the world’s first ammonia-fuelled tanker by 2025.
Alongside these projects, LR’s Maritime Decarbonisation Hub released a joint study earlier this year into ammonia safety onboard ships with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, which found that a range of mitigation methods, from ship design to crew training and operations, are required to keep toxicity risks to crew within published tolerable limits.
Andy McKeran, LR CCO said: “This HMD design is another significant step in the requirements for safe, efficient gas bunkering worldwide. We are at the start of the ammonia bunkering era, and it is vital that we continue to see the industry is develop technical solutions to support commercial and regulatory requirements. No-one knows at what speed the commercial take-up of ammonia fuelled shipping will now proceed but concrete technical progress is being made.”
Chan-il Kim, HMD VP said: “We, HMD forecast that ammonia fuelled vessels will be widely adopted by the marine market as a substitute for conventional fuels in accordance with recently strengthened IMO GHG reduction and our design will timely respond to market demand for bunkering of ammonia in the upcoming future. As a first mover in the initial ammonia bunkering era, we, HMD will continuously endeavour to improve our design with LR.”
