SHI’s ammonia-fueled 9,300 TEU boxship design secures KR’s nod

Classification society Korean Register (KR) has awarded approval in principle (AiP) to South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its ammonia-fueled 9,300 TEU containership design.

As disclosed, SHI developed an entirely new structural layout and the vessel’s design which includes specialized fuel tanks, fuel supply systems, ventilation, and gas detection systems, incorporating the properties of ammonia fuel.

KR verified this newly developed vessel’s design and ammonia fuel system, ensuring compliance with classification rules and international regulations, and granted AiP after confirming the integrity and safety of the entire system.

“This joint development is a significant step toward the commercialization of large ammonia-fueled container ships. KR will continue to provide technical support for the innovations in decarbonization solutions,” Lee Hyungchul, Chairman and CEO of KR, said.

“Our 9,300 TEU ammonia-fueled container ship incorporates the leading eco-friendly technologies of SHI. We will continue to accelerate the development of carbon-neutral solutions to secure our competitive edge in the next-generation ship market,” Jang Haeki, Executive Vice President and CTO of SHI, commented.

As the global maritime industry intensifies efforts to meet stricter decarbonization targets, ammonia is gaining prominence as a potential zero-carbon fuel.

In light of the current trends, recent LNG-fueled container ships have adopted designs that allow the use of ammonia fuel as a sustainable option.

Ammonia fuel presents advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and efficiency compared to other alternative fuels.  However, due to its high toxicity and corrosive properties, it requires a specially designed fuel propulsion system, as well as additional safety assessments that take the operational requirements into consideration.

In a separate statement, the Korean Register signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) to develop an enhanced ammonia fuel supply system.

The agreement represents a collaborative effort between HD HHI and KR to advance the development of an ammonia fuel supply system.

Specifically, HD HHI will design key system configurations to integrate ammonia fuel into ammonia carriers. KR will conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the system and grant approval in principle (AiP).

“Ammonia, as a zero-carbon fuel, offers significant benefits in operational economics and supply stability. Through this risk assessment, we are dedicated to developing an enhanced ammonia fuel supply system, contributing to global carbon-neutral initiatives,” Jung Jaejun, Executive Vice President of HD HHI, remarked.

“This joint development is an important foundation for the commercialization of ammonia-fueled vessels. KR will continue to provide essential technical support for advancing decarbonization solutions,” Kim Yeontae, Executive Vice President of KR’s Technical Division, concluded.