KR greenlights SHI’s ultra-large, ammonia-fueled ammonia carrier 

Classification society Korean Register (KR) has awarded approval in principle (AiP) for Samsung Heavy Industries’ ultra-large, ammonia-powered ammonia carrier design.

The 150,000-cbm ultra-large ammonia carrier design was developed as part of a joint development project between KR and SHI. The ship is designed to transport large quantities of ammonia while using ammonia as a propulsion fuel, ensuring zero carbon emissions during operation.

SHI performed the conceptual design of the fuel system, addressing the characteristics of ammonia, including fuel supply, ventilation, and gas monitoring systems, and ensured that the basic design of the large tanks met the regulatory requirements.

On the other hand, KR verified the safety of the ammonia fuel system, checked the suitability of the tank arrangement, and reviewed domestic and international regulations to confirm the design compliance of the ultra-large ammonia carrier.

The approval was received on June 5, 2024, at Posidonia, Greece.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of 9,300 TEU ammonia-fueled containerships.

SHI will design the main system layout for applying ammonia fuel to 9,300 TEU containerships, and KR will verify the design compliance through the review of classification rules as well as domestic and international regulations.

“Clean ammonia is expected to play a significant role as an eco-friendly energy source and in energy transport for the future hydrogen society. We anticipate high market demand for ultra-large ammoniacarriers to accommodate the expected increase in cargo volumes. The AiP will enable the rapid commercialization of ultra-large ammonia carriers, and based on this, we will collaborate with KR to lead the next-generation ship market by developing 9,300 TEU container carriers,” Jang Haeki, Executive Vice President of SHI, stated.

“The collaborative projects with SHI focusing on ammonia-fueled ships are pivotal in establishing a solid groundwork for the commercialization of ammonia fuel ship technology. KR remains committed to furthering the advancement of ammonia fuel propulsion technology and supporting decarbonization initiatives,” Yeon Kyujin, Senior Vice President of KR, added.

To remind, SHI received AiP from ABS for the design of a midship section and cargo tank for a 96,000-cbm very large ammonia carrier at Posidonia. The ammonia carrier design resulted from a joint development project that included the production of a 3D structural cargo hold model from SHI for review by ABS.

Last year, SHI received AiP from Korean Register for a 200,000-cbm ultra-large ammonia carrier fueled by ammonia.