ABS awards AiP to Pherousa Shipping for on-board ammonia cracking technology

Classification society ABS on Friday (6 June) said an approval in principle (AiP) was issued to Pherousa Shipping for its ammonia cracking technology onboard ships, featuring proton exchange membrane fuel cells and fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for fully electric propulsion.

The emissions-free propulsion system is targeted for application on Pherousa’s Ultramax 64,000 dwt bulk carrier to transport copper, a key material in solar panels and electric cars, in fully emissions free vessels.

Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, said: “We are seeing rapid innovation and new developments around ammonia as an alternative fuel, whether as a carrier of hydrogen or as a fuel in its own right.

“Cracking ammonia to produce hydrogen for fuel cells is one that has the potential to accelerate the energy transition to low or no carbon emissions in the maritime industry. ABS is proud to share our deep insight into the safety aspects of ammonia as a marine fuel in supporting development of this capability.”

Hans Bredrup, Chairman of Pherousa AS, said: “The approval in principle from ABS marks another important milestone for us in the development of a zero-emission scalable solution for the maritime industry. 

“It allows us to continue the design and construction of our concept series of 64,000 dwt bulk carriers earmarked for the copper industry, to ensure that this specific commodity, so essential to global decarbonisation, can be delivered across oceans without any carbon footprint at all.”

Key partners in the project include the designers Deltamarin, the flag state Marshall Islands, Babcock International Group, which supplies the FGSS, as well as Metacon, the technology developer and shareholder of Pherousa.

Photo credit: ABS
Published: 10 June, 2025