Classification society DNV on Tuesday (25 January) shared the findings of a joint industry project (JIP) with TotalEnergies, Samsung Heavy Industries and a major Asian energy transport company.
The JIP investigated the rationale of ammonia as a future bunker fuel for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel VLCC tanker design and the business cases for converting the vessel to ammonia while comparing it to other alternatives.
It analysed a very large crude carrier (VLCC) design assumed to be operating on a Middle East to Far East Asia route at a speed of 13 knots. The ship was assumed to begin operating in 2024 with a 20-year lifespan.
The study found design arrangements for an ammonia-ready newbuild must account for both LNG and ammonia.
For example, ammonia requires larger tanks to achieve the same level of autonomy – which has implications for the superstructure – and a stronger support structure underneath.
Other design properties, such as tank and piping materials, should be chosen with a potential retrofit for ammonia in mind.
Further, it noted the bunkering strategy of the vessel must be reassessed as the energy density of ammonia is considerably lower than that of LNG, almost half in terms of volume.
In summary, the research concluded additional costs to enable the VLCC to run on LNG (rather than conventional fuel oil) were about USD 20 million.
On top of this, an additional estimated USD 2 million was needed at the newbuilding stage to make the vessel ready for a future retrofit to ammonia.
In the study, the most cost-effective compliance strategy in all cases was to operate on LNG with increasing amounts of bio-LNG blended in.
“There is a way towards 2050, but the ‘right’ direction is very ship- and trade-specific, and a range of assumptions need to be established,” it concludes.
Editor’s note: A slideshow with more details of the JIP, including business cases, total cost of ownership, and more, is available for download here.
Photo credit: DNV
Published: 27 January, 2022
The International Chamber of Shipping proposed a $2/t levy on marine fuel purchases last year to create a fund for development of zero-carbon marine fuels, it said.
Vessel, powered by MAN engine and equipped with two 6,000 m3 C-type ammonia fuel tanks, will have endurance for a round-trip voyage to the Middle East.
In the initial stage, the partnership will explore the environmental benefits and commercial and operational feasibilities of various technologies.
Development takes place after completion of an industry-first biofuel trial onboard Svitzer Intrepid which has been running since September 2021.
The newbuildings also will be fitted with solar panels and scrubbers and emit zero emissions in port.
Approximately 160 mt of the 200 mt of spilled oil had been cleared by Wednesday morning.
Program introduces periodic assessments, mass flow metering data analysis, and regular training for relevant key personnel to better handle the MFMS to ensure a high level of continuous operational competency.
U.S. Claims Register Summary recorded a total USD 833 million claim from a total 180 creditors against O.W. Bunker USA, according to the creditor list seen by Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times.
Glencore purchased fuel through Straits Pinnacle which contracted supply from Unicious Energy. Contaminated HSFO was loaded at Khor Fakkan port and shipped to a FSU in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended.
Individuals were employees of surveying companies engaged by Shell to inspect the volume of oil loaded onto the vessels which Shell supplied oil to; they allegedly accepted bribes totalling at least USD 213,000.
MPA preliminary investigations revealed that the affected marine fuel was supplied by Glencore Singapore Pte Ltd who later sold part of the same cargo to PetroChina International (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
‘MPA had immediately contacted the relevant bunker suppliers to take necessary steps to ensure that the relevant batch of fuel was no longer supplied. Further investigations are currently on-going,’ it informs.
