Nikkiso’s ammonia fuel retrofit solution earns ABS approval

Classification society ABS has issued approval in principle (AiP) to Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases, part of Japan’s Nikkiso Co., for an ammonia fuel supply system that can be retrofitted to existing vessels or installed on newbuilds.

ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements, approving the ammonia fuel supply system with high-efficiency pumps and integrated fuel management systems.

“As a world leader in marine LNG fueling systems, Nikkiso has the right experience and expertise to support customers’ safe transition to lower-carbon ammonia fuel,” said Konstantinos Fakiolas, Director of Marine, Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases. “Nikkiso’s FSS for ammonia is designed under the principles of redundancy, enhanced reliability and robustness with the highest safety standards for mitigating leakages and slippages.”

Michael Kei, ABS Vice President, Technology, added: “The ability to retrofit is significant for the maritime industry to meet sustainability objectives. This new fuel supply system promises a solution with decarbonization benefits of alternative fuels like ammonia to be available for existing vessels near-term. Along with safety excellence, our deep technical expertise in alternative fuels and engine designs makes us the ideal classification society for innovative projects such as this from Nikkiso.”

Ammonia as an alternative fuel is widely explored in the maritime industry, with numerous milestones already achieved. According to the recent independent study, commissioned by the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF), greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of up to 61% are achievable from using ammonia as a marine fuel, depending on the marine technology employed.

In terms of recent developments, ABS approved unmanned ammonia engine room for ammonia-fueled ship and an artificial intelligence (AI) safety package for unmanned engine room for ammonia-fueled ship developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).

The classification society also granted the AiP to the consortium behind the project seeking to establish green ammonia ship-to-ship bunkering on the U.S. East Coast for the initial design of ammonia bunkering articulated tug barge (AB-ATB).