‘World’s first’ STS ammonia transfer at anchorage completed (Gallery)

September 17, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić

A Global Center for Maritime Decarbonization-led consortium has completed what is said to be “the world’s first” ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of ammonia at anchorages within the Port of Dampier.

The operation, which took place on September 14, 2024, is a result of the collaborative relationship between Yara Clean Ammonia, the Pilbara Ports Authority, and the Global Center for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD).

Courtesy of Yara International

Courtesy of Global Center for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD)

The operation is part of the work to enhance the Pilbara’s potential as a bunkering hub to fuel ships with low-emission ammonia. Low-emission ammonia is produced with renewable energy and electrolysis of water or with carbon capture and storage.

Two ship-to-ship transfers were undertaken between Green Pioneer, a 35,000 cbm ammonia carrier owned by Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and Navigator Global, a 22,500 cbm ammonia carrier owned by UK-based shipowner and operator Navigator Gas. The trial involved a dual transfer of 4,000 cbm (approximately 2,715 tonnes) of ammonia, first from Green Pioneer to Navigator Global, and then back to Green Pioneer.

Each transfer operation took approximately six hours, according to GCMD. The partners noted that the successful transfers demonstrate the operational viability of future ammonia bunkering in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The Pilbara region is “a highly prospective region” for low to zero greenhouse gas emissions shipping, and Port of Dampier has extensive experience with ammonia export given Yara’s nearby operations that account for 5% of the world’s tradable ammonia.

This pilot also marks a step towards operationalizing a low-GHG emission shipping route for international iron ore trade, which is projected to require 1 to 1.5 million tonnes of ammonia by 2035, according to a joint 2023 study undertaken by Pilbara Ports, Yara Clean Ammonia, and Lloyd’s Register.

The trial aimed to simulate ammonia bunkering operations through ship-to-ship transfers at anchorage, given the current lack of ammonia bunkering vessels and ammonia-fueled ships. The first transfer, conducted at the Port of Dampier, served as a proxy for breakbulk operations, capitalizing on the port’s established experience with ammonia exports, it was highlighted.

Meanwhile, the second transfer was intended to explore the feasibility of ammonia bunkering, with the potential to extend such operations to nearby ports anticipated to host bulk carriers in the future.

To operationalize this pair of transfers, the consortium used procedures and incorporated additional safety mitigation measures. These measures included the use of emergency release couplings, emergency shutdown devices, and other safety equipment, and the implementation of hot-gas and nitrogen purging procedures after ammonia transfer.

“International shipping accounts for 3% of the global GHG-emissions and we see clean ammonia as the low to zero-emission fuel to decarbonize the shipping industry and meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets. For more than a century we have been producing and shipping ammonia with the highest safety standards and efficient ammonia operations. The successful ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia was a critical learning step in enabling ammonia bunkering operations in a port environment as global shipping moves to effective use of ammonia as a fuel,” Murali Srinivasan, SVP Commercial Yara Clean Ammonia, said.

Yara Pilbara’s Chief Operations Officer Laurent Trost said the successful trials were extremely encouraging as the Pilbara operations move forward with key decarbonization measures.

“We currently have the Project Yuri renewable hydrogen demonstration plant under construction on our existing lease which will begin injecting green molecules into our ammonia production process next year, and we are also investigating carbon capture and storage which would swiftly and significantly cut carbon output from our operations,” he added.

“These measures, along with government planning for enablement of green electricity transmission, would allow us to develop low carbon ammonia products in the Pilbara for application in the shipping industry and other clean fuels, as well as the building block for decarbonized ammonium nitrate and fertiliser products.”

In preparation for the next phase of GCMD’s initiative to enable ammonia as a marine fuel, the center will be leveraging the experience and knowledge gained from this pair of transfers to assess the feasibility of ammonia transfer elsewhere and to ready other forward-looking ports for eventual ammonia bunkering.

“This ammonia transfer pilot is a testament to the deliberate collaboration and rigorous planning of all parties involved. Beyond addressing the technical and operational challenges, executing this pilot required us to navigate complex commercial landscapes, including securing vessels and managing cargo transfer, as well as uncertainties and spur-of-the-moment hiccups that arise during operations,” Professor Lynn Loo, CEO, GCMD, said.

“This pilot marks a crucial step towards readying the ecosystem for using ammonia as a marine fuel, paving the way for eventual bunkering when ammonia-fuelled vessels become available.”

“As one of the major shipping companies operating about 880 vessels, we are very proud to be part of this ammonia STS trial which will bring a significant progress in the ammonia bunkering. This will be a great example of a collaboration between cargo owners, government and port authorities, and ship operators, which will be crucial for the transition to alternative fuels,” Jotaro Tamura, Senior Managing Executive Officer, MOL, concluded.