S. Korean industry players, Liberian Registry partner on STS ammonia bunkering guidelines

Korean Register (KR), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), KSS Line, and the Liberian Registry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the safety guidelines for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

As the demand for ammonia-fueled vessels rises, this partnership aims to establish “robust safety standards for STS ammonia bunkering” for supplying fuel to ammonia-fueled vessels.

The safe bunkering of alternative fuels, like ammonia, requires rigorous risk assessment and the establishment of controlled zones. While standards for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol bunkering have already been defined through various international industry standards, ammonia currently lacks relevant guidelines, highlighting the urgent need for the partnership’s research.

To address this industry need, the five organizations involved will work together to develop standardized safety procedures that will set international benchmarks for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

As part of the initiative, HD KSOE will conduct risk assessments in accordance with international industry standards.

Meanwhile, HD HHI and KSS Line will use their knowledge of alternative fuel vessels and ammonia carriers to assess controlled zones and safety protocols for ammonia STS bunkering.

Moreover, KR will review and verify the compliance of these safety procedures, ultimately issuing an Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate.

Additionally, the Liberian Registry, responsible for overseeing the world’s largest registered fleet, will conduct a further review to validate the safety procedures.

Kim Yeontae, Executive Vice President of KR’s technical division, emphasized the significance of the collaborative effort to establish safety standards, particularly in light of the anticipated increase in ammonia bunkering demand driven by the growing construction of ammonia-fueled vessels. He expressed KR’s commitment to advancing ammonia fuel technology and supporting the industry’s decarbonization efforts through this partnership.

“Just as we observed with the initial adoption of LNG STS bunkering, it is critical to establish regulations and procedures for ammonia as well. Our Innovation and Energy Transition team will thoroughly review the safety protocols and support the development of international standards,” Kim Jungsik, Managing Director of the Korea Office at the Liberian Registry, stated.

Globally, ammonia is used in agriculture and industry. It is manufactured as a chemical by combining nitrogen from the air with hydrogen. As a carrier for hydrogen, ammonia can be transported to demand centers for power generation and as a marine fuel to support the energy transition. Recently, the industry witnessed the world’s first ammonia bunkering onboard an ammonia-powered vessel.

Australia’s green energy firm Fortescue, with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), government agencies, research institutes, and industry partners, has conducted the bunkering on its vessel Green Pioneer. The ship was loaded with liquid ammonia, in combination with diesel in the combustion process, from the existing ammonia facility at Vopak Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island for the fuel trial.

To remind, HD KSOE recently received approvals in principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) for its ammonia cargo operation system and ammonia fuel supply system, which can be used in conjunction with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Furthermore, HD KSOE’s subsidiary HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) obtained AiP from classification society DNV for its new design of a 15,300 TEU ammonia dual-fuel containership.