‘Pioneering’ ammonia-fueled ammonia bunkering vessel gets ClassNK’s approval

An ammonia-fueled ammonia bunkering vessel design developed for local use in Singapore has received approval in principle (AiP) from classification society ClassNK.

The ‘pioneering’ vessel design was delivered by Japanese shipping major NYK Line in collaboration with LMG Marin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seatrium, and other consortium partners. As the next step, the vessel’s design will now be submitted to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) for evaluation.

According to the partners, the AiP certification validates the ammonia-fueled ammonia bunkering vessel design’s compliance with stringent safety, technical, and environmental standards.

LMG Marin conducted a Hazard Identification Study (HAZID) to ensure design validation and compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) interim guidelines for the safety of ships using ammonia as fuel.

The vessel design also incorporates the consortium’s two key features to ensure safety and operational reliability: ammonia fuel dual-fuel engines from IHI Power Systems and a bunkering boom by TB Global Technologies.

The engines, which are said to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using ammonia as a fuel, are also installed on the world’s first commercial-use ammonia-fuelled tugboat, Sakigake, delivered in August 2024. The bunkering boom features a unique technology called the High-Speed Ammonia Purging Emergency Release System (ERS), which is expected to enable a reliable and efficient disconnection between vessels in an emergency.

Tsutomu Yokoyama, Executive Officer at NYK Line, commented: “This Approval-in-Principle represents a critical milestone in our efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel. With the rich ammonia expertise of NYK and our partners, as well as the great technical capabilities of Seatrium, we are setting new benchmarks for safety and efficiency while paving the way for a cleaner maritime future.”

Aziz Merchant, Executive Vice President for Engineering, and Technology & New Product Development, Seatrium, and Chairman of LMG Marin, added: “We are honoured to contribute to this industry-leading initiative led by NYK and its partners. The use of ammonia as a non-fossil-based marine fuel is a key distinction in this project. Collaborating on this visionary project reaffirms Seatrium’s commitment to advancing sustainability and supporting global decarbonization goals.”

The design for this ammonia-fueled ammonia bunkering vessel will be submitted to the MPA for evaluation. If delivered, this will be the first bunkering vessel of its kind, NYK said.