Ammonia

DNV: Shifting into high gear from ammonia pilots to scalable deployment in APAC

Dr. Capt. Satinder Virdi of DNV highlights key challenges and opportunities, including infrastructure readiness, safety and regulation, and what it will take for APAC to lead the way in this shift to ammonia.

Published

1 year ago

August 15, 2025

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DNV: Shifting into high gear from ammonia pilots to scalable deployment in APAC

With ammonia being one of the frontrunners among zero-carbon marine fuels, Dr. Capt. Satinder Virdi, Principal Consultant and Head of Research and Development, Maritime Advisory of classification society DNV shares why now is the time to move from pilot projects to large-scale regional implementation.

He highlights key challenges and opportunities, including infrastructure readiness, safety and regulation, and what it will take for APAC to lead the way in this shift:

As the global maritime industry accelerates its decarbonization efforts, ammonia is gaining traction as a zero-carbon fuel option, especially for long-distance shipping. When produced using renewable energy and seawater hydrolysis, green ammonia offers a viable pathway to significantly reduce emissions. However, adopting ammonia at scale involves unique safety, regulatory, and operational challenges that must be addressed systematically.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is poised to lead this next phase of maritime energy transition. Countries such as Singapore and Japan are actively developing ammonia bunkering infrastructure and safety frameworks, while Australia is advancing major green ammonia production and export projects. As the region with some of the world’s busiest ports, top shipbuilders, and evolving regulations, APAC is navigating a complex and evolving maritime landscape- with both opportunities and challenges. To scale ammonia safely and effectively, the region must prioritize risk-informed design, regulatory alignment, coordinated cross-sector action, and human capital development.

Critical step towards wide-scale use

In 2024, the first successful shore-to-ship ammonia bunkering pilot was conducted in Singapore for Fortescue’s ammonia-powered vessel, the Green Pioneer, a critical step forward in demonstrating the feasibility of handling ammonia safely under real-world conditions. DNV was closely involved in the technology qualification process and technical assessments of the vessel’s ammonia safety systems and design, awarding it with a “Gas Fuelled Ammonia” notation, an industry first, to use ammonia in combination with diesel as a marine fuel.

Insights from a January 2022 ammonia bunkering safety study by GCMD served as a reference for the pilot’s execution. Supported by DNV and other industry partners, the study evaluated over 400 potential risk scenarios and delivered key safety recommendations to guide ammonia bunkering operations. These findings were instrumental in identifying suitable pilot locations and now serve as a foundation for future ammonia bunkering activities.

Shortly afterwards, the momentum around ammonia continued to build in Australia’s Pilbara region, where DNV supported a successful ship-to-ship ammonia transfer between MOL’s and Navigator Gas’ ammonia carriers, again working alongside GCMD. This operation demonstrated safe ammonia handling in a different regulatory and port environment, reinforcing the applicability of risk-based safety approaches. Together, these pilots are turning ammonia as a shipping fuel from concept to reality in APAC.

Safety as a top priority

Ammonia is a colourless, caustic, and highly toxic substance, making its use as a marine fuel particularly challenging. Classified as a flammable fuel under the IMO’s IGF Code (International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels), its use requires specialised bunkering systems, designated safety zones onboard and in port, and targeted crew training as outlined in the STCW Code (Seafarers’ Training, Certification and Watchkeeping).

Its high toxicity demands rigorous safety protocols, as even low-level exposure poses serious health risks. While its pungent odour aids leak detection, managing these risks requires new approaches to ship design, emergency preparedness, and crew readiness.

Risk-based design is already being applied in new vessel and bunkering concepts. For instance, in DNV’s assessment of recent ammonia-ready vessel designs, features such as double-walled piping, gas dispersion modelling, and automated emergency shutdown systems are being integrated from the start. These are not optional add-ons but are essential to meet the safety threshold that regulators, port authorities, and society expect.

But design alone isn’t enough. The human factor will be a defining element in ammonia’s safety profile. DNV is supporting a major RoRo operator with due diligence and operational planning to ensure its technical teams are prepared to manage ammonia’s unique operational risks.

Infrastructure and Commercial Readiness

While ammonia bunkering concepts are progressing, commercial uptake is still at an early stage. According to DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, only three ammonia-fuelled vessels are currently operational globally, with 37 more on order.

To enable future scaling and adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel, robust safety guidelines for its handling, comprehensive training for both crew and shore-side personnel, and strategic investment in dedicated bunkering infrastructure will be essential. These elements are critical to reducing operational uncertainty and fostering safe, confident adoption by vessel operators.

Moreover, green ammonia production, critical to the fuel’s net-zero credentials, is still limited. Industry estimates suggest that less than 1% of global ammonia today is produced using renewable energy, although multiple projects are under development in Australia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Toward a Safe and Scalable Future

As ammonia gains traction as a marine fuel, the need to optimize operational safety is increasingly in focus. Alongside vessel design and crew training, which form the foundation for safe operations, technical barriers are also necessary. To help address these, DNV together with industry partners Yara Clean Ammonia, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement/Ula Ship Management, and other stakeholders, have developed a new Recommended Practice (RP) that outlines safety protocols, risk assessment frameworks, and crew training requirements specific to ammonia. APAC stakeholders can draw valuable insights from this RP and adapt its guidance to regional contexts, as it provides a roadmap for training institutions, operators, and flag states to adopt ammonia-ready safety systems and build the necessary competence for future deployment.

In addition to safety considerations, the way forward for scaling ammonia deployment in APAC requires managing complex, interconnected challenges. An industry-wide collaboration involving ammonia producers, regulators and vessel operators is necessary for its broader adoption. Harmonizing evolving international standards with national policies will help avoid regulatory fragmentation. Widespread adoption will also require extensive crew training and major port upgrades to support ammonia-fuelled vessels at scale.

DNV is actively supporting these efforts across the region, collaborating with regulators, shipowners, and energy developers to turn ambition into safe, scalable solutions.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 15 August, 2025

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Yang Ming orders six LNG dual-fuel, ammonia-ready containerships from Hanwha Ocean

Each of the six new vessels will have a capacity of up to 13,650 TEU and feature LNG dual-fuel propulsion and Ammonia Fuel Ready specifications.

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Yang Ming orders six LNG dual-fuel, ammonia-ready containerships from Hanwha Ocean

Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) and South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean on Wednesday (2 September) signed a shipbuilding contract for six 13,000 TEU class LNG dual-fuel container vessels.

The contract was signed by Dr. Chuck Tsai, Chairman of Yang Ming, and Mr. Charles Kim, CEO of Hanwha Ocean. The vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029.

They will complement Yang Ming’s existing fleet of 10,000+ TEU vessels and serve as key vessels on East-West services, with deployment flexibility across trade lanes connecting Asia with the East and West Coasts of North America, South America, and the Mediterranean.

Each of the six new vessels will have a capacity of up to 13,650 TEU and feature LNG dual-fuel propulsion and Ammonia Fuel Ready specifications.

“As Yang Ming transitions toward net-zero emissions, LNG provides a relatively mature and economically viable alternative fuel solution, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 20%,” the company said.

“At the same time, ammonia can serve as a carbon-free fuel by utilising converted LNG storage facilities, while offering relatively lower conversion costs and comparatively well-developed supply chains and infrastructure. The Ammonia Fuel Ready design will therefore provide Yang Ming with greater flexibility in responding to increasingly stringent international regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.”

In addition, the vessels will be equipped with Type B LNG fuel tanks with a design pressure of 1.0 bar to enhance the safety and efficiency of LNG operations, together with a range of energy-saving technologies, including Wind Shields, Rudder Bulbs, Pre-Swirl Stators, and Shore Power Systems. Smart ship technologies and cybersecurity protection features will also be incorporated to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and reliability while effectively reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Deliveries under Yang Ming’s next-generation fleet optimization plan commenced earlier this year. By 2030, a total of 24 new vessels are expected to enter service.

This includes 18 LNG dual-fuel vessels—comprising five 15,500 TEU, seven 16,000 TEU, and the six 13,000 TEU vessels under this contract—alongside six 8,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel-ready ships.

Photo credit: Yang Ming Marine Transport
Published: 4 September, 2026

Alternative Fuels

LR, China’s MARIC unveil tanker concept ready for three future bunker fuels

Both secured AiP for a new 114,000 DWT product and crude oil tanker designed to accommodate future conversion to LNG, methanol or ammonia.

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1 day ago

September 4, 2026

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LR, China’s MARIC unveil tanker concept ready for three future bunker fuels

Lloyd’s Register (LR) and the Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC) on Thursday (3 September) have secured Approval in Principle (AiP) for a new 114,000 DWT product and crude oil tanker designed to accommodate future conversion to LNG, methanol or ammonia.

Announced at SMM 2026, the concept addresses one of the biggest investment challenges facing shipping today: the need to develop vessels and capabilities that can support a range of alternative fuel options and pathways as technologies, infrastructure and regulations evolve.

While LNG is already a mature fuel pathway, methanol and ammonia remain at an earlier stage of development, with questions around global fuel availability, infrastructure development, economics and long-term adoption.

The 114,000 DWT tanker concept has been designed as a product and crude oil carrier that can accommodate future conversion to LNG, methanol or ammonia as technologies, regulations and fuel supply chains mature. By incorporating conversion readiness at the design stage, the concept aims to reduce future retrofit complexity and provide owners with greater confidence when planning long-term fleet investments.

The design concept was reviewed against LR’s July 2026 class rules and regulations, including requirements relating to ships using gases and other low-flashpoint fuels, alongside relevant IACS Common Structural Rules for oil tankers. Final classification and statutory approval remain subject to full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.

Theo Kourmpelis, Global Business Director for Tankers, Lloyd’s Register, said: “Shipowners are being asked to make major investment decisions today despite continued uncertainty around which fuels will dominate in the decades ahead. Alternative fuel solutions each offer potential pathways to compliance, but fuel infrastructure, regulation and economics continue to evolve at different speeds around the world.

“Designs that preserve flexibility will be critical in helping owners manage risk while preparing for multiple future scenarios.”

Si Nan, Marine & Offshore Marketing Department Vice Director, MARIC, said: “As the industry explores different decarbonisation pathways, shipowners need vessel designs that can adapt alongside technological and regulatory developments. This concept was developed specifically to provide greater fuel flexibility and long-term resilience, allowing owners to respond to changing market requirements without being locked into a single fuel strategy.

“Receiving Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register is an important milestone that validates the design concept and supports its future development.”

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 4 September, 2026

Ammonia

Mitsui E&S commercialises ammonia dual-fuel engines and fuel supply systems

Company says it has established a supply framework for marine propulsion systems aimed at the practical implementation of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 24, 2026

Admin

Mitsui E&S commercialises ammonia dual-fuel engines and fuel supply systems

Mitsui E&S on Thursday (20 August) said it has completed the commercialisation of large ammonia dual-fuel marine engines and ammonia fuel supply systems (AFSS).

As the only company in Japan manufacturing both ammonia dual fuel engines and AFSS, the company said it has established a supply framework for marine propulsion systems aimed at the practical implementation of ammonia-fuelled vessels.

“While ammonia holds promise as a next-generation fuel that emits no carbon dioxide during combustion, it is difficult to ignite and poses risks related to toxicity and corrosiveness; therefore, ensuring safety, reliability, and environmental performance is crucial for its practical implementation in society,” it said.

In February, Mitsui E&S conducted land-based tests involving the integrated operation of the Ammonia dual fuel engine MITSUI-Everllence B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIA-HPSCR and the AFSS, witnessed by ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), and verified their performance.

Following the completion of the tests and the subsequent review, Mitsui E&S confirmed the completion of onshore testing in accordance with classification society rules and verified compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) NOx regulations through NOx certification.

“Consequently, we have finalised the commercialisation of the ammonia dual fuel engines and the AFSS and are now able to supply it for actual vessels,” it added.

Mitsui E&S said it has already decided to expand its land-based testing facilities for AFSS compatible with both Everllence and WinGD licensed engines.

“In conjunction with this, we will establish a mass-production system for both the engines and the AFSS to meet the anticipated rise in demand,” it said.

Mitsui E&S added the company is expanding its engine lineup to accommodate a diverse range of next-generation marine fuels, including ammonia, by offering ammonia-fuelled engines and AFSS as an integrated package.

Photo credit: Mitsui E&S
Published: 24 August, 2026