ClassNK has issued Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia-fuelled gas carrier which has been jointly developed by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding.
Ammonia is expected to be used as a ship fuel for decarbonisation since it does not emit CO2 when combusted. Meanwhile, adequate safety measures are imperative as ammonia is considered toxic to humans and corrosive to materials. ClassNK has been involved in projects aiming for zero-emission ships using ammonia fuel in terms of safety assessment, and has issued its Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels as a necessary standard to minimise the risks related to ammonia-fuelled ships for the ships, crews, and environment by stipulating requirements for installation, controls, and safety devices.
The 180m long vessel, of about 40,000m3 tank capacity, uses some of its ammonia cargo as fuel, and aims to achieve net zero CO2 emissions while underway. The main engine, which is still under development, will be a Mitsui-MAN B&W type S60 two-stroke dual-fuel ammonia unit. ClassNK carried out the review on the jointly-developed design of the ammonia fuelled medium size gas carrier in line with Part C of its guidelines, and examined the risk assessment through Hazid. Upon confirming it complies with the prescribed requirements, ClassNK issued the AiP.
Ken Furuya, Executive Officer, GM Sales Dept, Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding said: ”We, Mitsui OSK Lines, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S shipbuilding, would like to express our appreciation to ClassNK and Lloyd’s Register for the support and cooperation to this joint development project. This AiP is an important milestone for us. We will continue to make an effort to complete this project successfully. Anticipating an increase in the need for ammonia as a marine fuel and greater demand for transporting it, the three companies are committed to playing a role in society’s overall decarbonisation efforts by providing clean ocean transport solutions with the zero emission ocean-going vessels”
Masaki Matsunaga, Corporate Officer, Director of Plan Approval and Technical Solution Division, ClassNK said: “ClassNK is honoured to have had the opportunity to be involved as a certification body in this concrete effort toward decarbonisation through close collaboration among MOL, Tsuneishi Shipbuidling, and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, and has issued the AiP as a milestone. For the project’s target to achieve net zero CO2 emissions while underway, we will continue to provide necessary support through its technical expertise.”
