Amogy’s converted ammonia-powered tug nearing completion

August 1, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

U.S. provider of ammonia-to-power solutions Amogy has revealed that its converted ammonia-powered tug is nearing completion.

As informed, the company held a renaming ceremony for the vessel NH₃ Kraken, officially welcoming the vessel to the water.

“The retrofit of the NH₃ Kraken is nearing completion, and, soon, we will celebrate not just validation of our proprietary technology in maritime vessels, but also the beginning of a new era. This venture allows us the extraordinary opportunity to forge a greener future for generations to come,” Seonghoon Woo, CEO at Amogy commented.

The tugboat is set to complete its maiden voyage on a tributary of the Hudson River in late summer.

Originally built in 1957, the NH₃ Kraken has passed through multiple owners and has been known by various names.

Changing hands from the Virginian Railroad Company, to the Boston Fuel Transportation Company, to Breakwater Marine, the tugboat most recently supported ice-breaking operations for Feeney Shipyard before being sold to Amogy.

The retrofit involved a comprehensive overhaul of the tugboat’s original diesel generators and electric motors, integrating Amogy’s ammonia-to-power system.

According to Amogy, NH₃ Kraken will prove how ammonia can be safely used as a primary fuel, either in new builds or retrofitted vessels.

The vessel is named for Amogy’s innovative ammonia “cracking” technology, which converts liquid ammonia (NH₃) into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen, and then funnels the hydrogen into a fuel cell.