Seaspan wins LR AiP for ammonia-powered 3,100 TEU feeder

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded approval in principle (AiP) to Hong Kong-based containership lessor Seaspan Corporation for its dual-fuel ammonia-powered next-generation feeder ship design.

The 3,100 TEU nominal vessel, measuring 198 meters in length and developed by German consultancy TECHNOLOG, will burn ammonia in its two-stroke main propulsion engine.

The project expands on a previous AiP announced in May, for an LNG-powered vessel design of the same specifications and also designed by TECHNOLOG, that can transition to ammonia during its operational lifecycle.

As explained, the completion of the AiP process for the ammonia-powered feeder ship design shows Seaspan’s commitment across the containership fleet, in this case addressing the need to provide emission-compliant feeders suited to a wide range of key trades. By collaborating with TECHNOLOG and LR, the Hong Kong-based company has developed a solution to meet future market decarbonization demands which anticipates future challenges and opportunities in the maritime industry.

By completing the AiP process, Seaspan, TECHNOLOG and Lloyd’s Register have laid the groundwork for future advancements in ammonia-powered feeder vessel technology in this rapidly evolving space.

“The AiP awarded for the ammonia-powered feeder ship design demonstrates the company’s very real commitment to emissions savings and future technologies. It also showcases the continued and long-standing partnership between LR and Seaspan. The work builds on the already innovative Next Generation feeder design developed by TECHNOLOG , showcasing the efficiencies associated with building a ship optimised for ammonia fuel,” Andy McKeran, Chief Commercial Officer at Lloyd’s Register, commented.

“In this second phase, we have focused on ammonia as a next-generation fuel, considering safety, arrangement, and bunkering. Although ammonia has advantages, it also has challenges that need to be overcome so we can operate ammonia dual-fuelled ships safely and economically. Once again, we have partnered with LR and TECHNOLOG on this project as we seek creative and viable solutions to decarbonize shipping,” Peter Jackson, Senior Vice President of Assets and Technology at Seaspan Corporation, said.

“At Seaspan we are excited to introduce one more innovative vessel design, developed in collaboration with TECHNOLOG and LR. This new vessel can burn ammonia, aligning with our commitment to sustainability while delivering unparalleled efficiency for our customers,” Dimitrios Panagopoulos, Vice President of Chartering and Business Development at Seaspan Corporation, added.

Seaspan has been engaged in other projects centered around ammonia as marine fuel. In May 2023, the company and its partners unveiled the design of the 15,000 TEU ammonia-powered container vessel in Copenhagen. Seaspan has been leading the design project in close collaboration with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, A.P. Moller – Maersk, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and Foreship Ltd.

The project is connected to the SABRE Consortium, focusing on developing and demonstrating an ammonia supply chain in Singapore. The parties aim to commence ammonia bunkering by 2030.

In December last year, the company also entered a new market segment with an order for up to ten dual-fuel LNG pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) in partnership with Hyundai Glovis. The deal entails the construction of six firm and four optional 10,800 CEU dual-fuel PCTCs which will be ammonia and methanol-ready.