Report: 59% of respondents willing to sail on or work with ammonia-fuelled vessels

A survey found that the majority, approximately 59%, of respondents from across the maritime community were willing to sail on or work with ammonia-fuelled vessels, according to Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) on Tuesday (22 October). 

This was one of the findings in MMMCZCS’ latest report exploring the perceptions of ammonia as a marine fuel among seafarers and shore based personnel. 

With the maritime industry moving towards low- or zero-carbon fuels to decarbonize, MMMCZCS said ammonia is emerging as an alternative marine fuel, with promising potential especially in the mid- to long term of the maritime energy transition. 

However, the properties of ammonia, including its toxicity and gaseous nature at ambient temperature, mean that its implementation as a marine fuel in scale will require much more than technical readiness. 

Addressing unique safety and operability challenges will be crucial to qualify ammonia as a safe marine fuel.

To support this focus, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, has undertaken a survey of over 2,000 respondents (including 1435 seafarers) across the maritime community to better understand their perceptions, concerns, and requests relating to ammonia as a marine fuel.

“In publishing this survey report, we aim to share the voices, concerns, and suggested ways forward raised by the community, who will be most directly impacted by the use of ammonia as a marine fuel,” said Martin Stenberg Eriksen, Head of Safety Leadership at MMMCZS. 

Ammonia as fuel will fundamentally alter many conventional fuel oil practices onboard vessels relating to activities such as bunkering, storage, transfer, combustion, pressure and temp management, vessel handling, maintenance and emergency preparedness. It is crucial that the industry engage and involve the people that would be affected and exposed to ammonia safety and operational risks.

Other key takeaways from the report are:

• Respondents’ acceptance of ammonia as a marine fuel was conditional on appropriate training and certification. Top training priorities included management of ammonia leakage, emergency response and firefighting, maintenance and bunkering, and regulation.
• Respondents’ primary safety concerns regarding ammonia as a marine fuel included toxicity and human health, leakage and emergency response, maintenance and storage, and air pollution.
• The results from the survey can support the maritime industry to develop the regulations, guidelines, and training requirements that will create a safer working environment for the maritime community working with ammonia as a fuel.

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Published: 24 October, 2024