Ammonia

GCMD in midst of developing emergency response plan for ammonia STS ops

GCMD is working with Oil Spill Response Limited, BlueTack and Stream Marine Technical to develop a draft ERP for ammonia STS operations, with the aim of adapting it for bunkering.

Published

10 months ago

July 23, 2024

Admin

GCMD in midst of developing emergency response plan for ammonia STS ops

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation on Tuesday (23 July) said it has been developing an emergency response plan (ERP) draft with industry partners specifically tailored to accidental ammonia release.

The partners GCMD is working with are Oil Spill Response Limited, BlueTack and Stream Marine Technical.

“GCMD is working with industry partners to develop a draft ERP for ammonia STS operations, with the aim of adapting it for bunkering,” it said in an update.

Given ammonia’s toxicity, GCMD said it was important to have a well-defined emergency response plan (ERP) to minimise the impact of accidental ammonia release and safeguard life, property, and the environment.

“Existing ERPs for oil and chemical spills can provide a valuable foundation, especially in areas such as tiered response levels based on the severity of release,” it said.

“This, in turn, determines resource needs and multi-agency coordination protocols. However, it is important to recognise that we will need to supplement these plans with procedures tailored to ammonia’s properties.”

The provisional ERP report is scheduled to be released in Q4 of 2024.

Note: GCMD’s visuals for a preview of the ammonia release ERP it is working on, highlighting some of the scenarios when ammonia is released both into sea and air, can be found here.

Photo credit: Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation
Published: 23 July 2024

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Events

Green Shiptech China Congress to explore alternative bunker fuels and ship technologies

LNG, methanol and ammonia as well as fuel cell integration will be among key issues discussed at the annual conference which will be held on 25 to 26 September in Shanghai.

Published

3 days ago

May 15, 2025

Admin

Ridge China on Wednesday (14 May) announced it will be hosting the 14th Green Shiptech China Congress (GSCC), an annual conference which will be held on 25 to 26 September in Shanghai.

More than 4,400 experts and decision makers from governments, classification societies, shipowners, shipyards, research institutes, technology/equipment suppliers and consulting companies attended the previous GSCC from 2012 to 2024.

For 2025, over 400 industry experts, corporate decision makers and government officials will be engaged in comprehensive discussions on current issues of IMO, EU, USCG, China MSA’s policies and regulations, designs and standards for new ship models, innovative and sustainable green ship technologies at this annual conference.

Alternative bunker fuels such as LNG, methanol and ammonia as well as fuel cell integration will be part of the important issues discussed at the event.

Speakers will be from

IMO
European Commission
U.S. Coast Guard
China MSA
Financial Institutions
Maritime Research Institutes
Solution & Technology Providers
Shipowners
Shipyards
Classification Societies

Key topics

Policies and Regulations Update and Interpretate by IMO, European Commission, U.S. Coast Guard and China MSA
Retrofitting Vessels to Achieve Decarbonization Goals
Energy Efficiency Continues to Be Key for Decarbonization
Decarbonization Through Digitalization
Digital Technologies As a Key Enabler for Emissions Reduction
Impact of a Hull Coating Upgrade on Hull Efficiency
LNG As Marine Fuel: Pivoting Towards Cleaner Shipping
Methanol As a Marine Fuel
Ammonia’s Credentials As a Green Fuel
Wind Propulsion Technology
Fuel Cell Integration: Upcoming Challenges and Opportunity
Propelling Carbon-neutral Shipping with Green Engines and Alternative Fuels
Next-generation Electric and Hybrid Marine Propulsion Technologies and Components
Latest Developments in Energy Storage Systems

Interested parties may contact:

Mr. Quin Xu
Tel: +86 21 6607 8610 -8003
Mob: +86 13564222811
Email: [email protected]

Note: The English and Chinese version of the event website can be found here and here respectively while the event registration can be found here.

Photo credit: Ridge China
Published: 15 May, 2025

LNG Bunkering

SEA-LNG: LNG pathway offers best returns under IMO Net-Zero Framework

SEA LNG’s calculations show that under the Net-Zero Framework, investments in LNG dual fuel vessels offer shipowners a significantly shorter payback period than methanol, ammonia or VLSFO.

Published

3 days ago

May 15, 2025

Admin

Industry coalition SEA-LNG on Wednesday (14 May) said it has completed its initial analysis of the IMO Net-Zero Framework following MEPC 83 by using the independent Z-Joule cost of compliance calculator to assess the commercial implications of the new regulations.

The calculations show that under the Net-Zero Framework investments in LNG dual fuel vessels offer shipowners a significantly shorter payback period than methanol, ammonia or VLSFO. LNG ships also give shipowners a commercial advantage through fuel optionality and access to widespread established infrastructure.

The complex IMO Net-Zero Framework now requires further detailed analysis and feedback from the industry, as well as coordination with EU initiatives and the specific concerns of other member states, prior to formal ratification later this year. There are also critical details surrounding the IMO Net Zero Fund and the zero and near-zero-emission fuels (ZNZ) Reward Mechanism that will not be addressed before 2027.

SEA-LNG’s research examines the investment case for a 14,000 TEU container vessel operating a trans-Pacific route from Japan to the US West Coast. It compares LNG, ammonia and methanol dual fuel vessels against a vessel fuelled by VLSFO over a 15-year investment period.

The total cost of the different fuel pathways is driven by CapEx, the carbon intensity of the fuels, and the fuel price. For both fuel price forecasts and carbon intensity values, SEA-LNG used assumptions from DNV’s analysis (MEPC 82/INF.8/Add.1) of the candidate mid-term measures discussed at MEPC 82.

Both high-pressure and low-pressure LNG dual fuel engines offer a relative payback period of between 4.5 and 5 years compared with VLSFO because of lower compliance costs due to LNG’s lower greenhouse gas fuel intensity (GFI). Methanol and ammonia fuelled vessels do not pay back over the 15-year investment horizon.

SEA-LNG also modelled the investment case for a 14,000 TEU containership operating on the Rotterdam-Singapore trade route using the same fuel price forecasts. In this case, the vessel is subject to both IMO and EU decarbonisation regulations – the latter for 50% of the voyage. Here the payback for LNG fuelled vessels was reduced to about 3.5 years mainly due to the effect of FuelEU Maritime in the early years of the analysis period.

Steve Esau, Chief Operating Officer of SEA-LNG, said: “While many details need to be decided, the IMO Net-zero Framework provides a clear basis for maritime decarbonisation and should, in principle, enable all fuel pathways – be they LNG, methanol or ammonia – to compete on a level playing field. For this to continue, it is imperative that the ZNZ Reward Mechanism is designed in a fuel agnostic and technology neutral way.”

Peter Keller, Chairman of SEA-LNG, concluded: “The industry continues to make major investments in the LNG pathway. These ships can use LNG, bio-methane and e-methane, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut local pollution today. The IMO position, as well as the EU regulations, both affirm the pathway is heading in the right direction and offers a practical and realistic route to compliance, starting right now.”

This research is the first in a series of costs of compliance analyses SEA-LNG is developing using the Z-Joule calculator.

The IMO Net-Zero Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector. 

Approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MEPC 83) from 7 to 11 April 2025, the measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

These measures, set to be formally adopted in October 2025 before entry into force in 2027, will become mandatory for large ocean-going ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, which emit 85% of the total CO2 emissions from international shipping. 

Note: The full SEA-LNG analysis can be read here.

Photo credit: Venti Views on Unsplash
Published: 15 May, 2025

Bunker Fuel

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025

4.40 million mt of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.24 million mt recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Published

4 days ago

May 14, 2025

Admin

Singapore: Bunker fuel sales increase by 4% on year in April 2025

Sales of marine fuel at Singapore port increased by 4% on year in April 2025, according to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) data.

In total, 4.40 million metric tonnes (mt) (exact 4,404,440 mt) of various marine fuel grades were delivered at the world’s largest bunkering port in April, up from 4.24 million mt (4,235,160 mt) recorded during the similar month in 2024.

Deliveries of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in April (against on year) recorded respectively 1.70 million mt (+6.3% from 1.60 million mt), 2.24 million mt (-0.4% from 2.25 million mt), zero (from zero), zero (-100% from 9,700 mt) and zero (from zero).

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Bio-blended variants of marine fuel oil, low sulphur fuel oil, ultra low sulphur fuel oil, marine gas oil and marine diesel oil in April (against on year) recorded respectively 33,300 mt (+100% from zero), 75,600 mt (+26.8% from 59,600 mt), 700 mt (+100% from zero), zero (from zero) and zero (from zero). A new addition of biofuel blend, introduced in February this year, B100, recorded 300 mt in April.

LNG and methanol sales were posted respectively at 42,000 mt (+18% from 35,600) and zero (from zero). There were no recorded sales of ammonia for the month and so far in 2025.

A complete series of articles on Singapore bunker volumes by Manifold Times in 2024 can be found below: