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Wärtsilä: Successful tests pave the way for ammonia as a future marine fuel

Ammonia can be produced with green energy and it contains no carbon so it doesn’t release carbon dioxide when it burns or when it is being produced, it said.
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Maritime technology group Wärtsilä on Thursday (2 July) published an article outlining the company’s findings in its numerous projects involving ammonia as a bunker fuel as well as its future plans in the field; the article was written by David J. Cord: 

The Wärtsilä combustion research unit is humming along nicely. Wärtsilä engines generate electricity and power ships all over the world, but this experiment is special because it involves ammonia.

“We get excited when it works according to our expectations,” says Kaj Portin, General Manager, Fuel & Operational Flexibility, Wärtsilä Marine. 

The Wärtsilä scientists have good reason to be excited. Ammonia can be created with green energy and it contains no carbon so it doesn’t release carbon dioxide when it burns. It can be produced and used with no carbon emissions whatsoever: a huge advantage in our quest for a cleaner and sustainable world.

Tried but not tested

The idea of using ammonia as fuel is nothing new, but it has only been used in limited cases because there are major challenges to using it.

“It doesn’t ignite very well and it burns slowly,” Portin explains. “You have to be careful with the temperatures and pressures to get it to work.”

There are two methods to use ammonia: see how much ammonia can be fed into a standard engine with small modifications or design an engine that is optimised to operate with ammonia. 

“If we modify the fuel, we can use it in our current engines,” Portin says. “For instance, maybe we can mix ammonia with LNG or diesel to get it to ignite.”

Wärtsilä scientists will continue tests using dual-fuel and spark-ignited gas engines. In 2022, they will begin working with ship owners on field tests.

Are fuel cells the way to go?

In addition to using ammonia in regular combustion engines,  there is also another option: fuel cells. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidising agent into electricity. Using hydrogen in a fuel cell is a common idea, but ammonia can also be used in one, which is what is happening on a Norwegian ship.

Eidesvik Offshore’s Viking Energy supply ship is the focus of a major clean energy project by the EU initiative ShipFC and a consortium of companies including Wärtsilä. 

“Our role in the project is the development and delivery of the electronic and control equipment, as well as the systems required to store and distribute ammonia on board. We will also do integration and design work for the new energy system,” says Ingve Sørfonn, Manager Technology of Marine Electrical Systems at Wärtsilä. 

Yara, the world’s biggest producer of ammonia, will produce green ammonia for the ship – by doing so with hydropower. When the Viking Energy launches, it will be the world’s first zero-emissions supply vessel using green ammonia as fuel.

Tapping into existing infrastructure

Fuel cells are an intriguing possibility, but the downside is that you need entirely new power plants. A better option would be to use clean fuel in existing machinery, which is why Wärtsilä scientists want “future-proof” engines which can use the clean fuels of the future. It would also be better to use existing systems, which is another benefit of ammonia.

“One major advantage of ammonia is that the infrastructure to use it already exists,” explains Cato Esperø, Sales Director, Wärtsilä Norway. “It is already shipped around the world in huge quantities.”

About 175 million tonnes of ammonia is currently produced annually. Its main use is in fertiliser, but you probably have ammonia in your house because it is a common agent in cleaning products. We already have the know-how to use ammonia, and the challenge is to apply this knowledge in innovative ways.

The next big thing?

An ambitious idea to power ships with ammonia is the Zero Emission Energy Distribution at Sea (ZEEDS) project. The ZEEDS idea is to build offshore hubs near busy shipping lanes which will produce, store and distribute clean fuel to vessels. Green ammonia will be produced with offshore wind parks while ships refuel at nearby stations. Partners in the project include Aker Solutions, Equinor, DFDS, Grieg Star, Kværner and Wärtsilä.

It is no wonder why ammonia is such a hot topic currently. The British Royal Society has drawn attention to it in a policy briefing and maritime heavyweights such as Samsung Heavy Industries, MAN Energy Solutions, Lloyd’s Register and MISC Berhad have launched an ammonia research project.

Wärtsilä is involved in a number of other ammonia-related projects. Carnival is studying the use of ammonia on their huge fleet of cruise ships. Repsol wants clean energy produced by ammonia on their offshore rigs.

“We are really excited about the opportunity ammonia as a fuel provides,” Esperø says. “In the near future engines will be running with zero carbon emissions. It will happen fast, we are doing something good for the future, and this will be great news for the whole world.”


Photo credit and source: Wärtsilä
Published: 6 July, 2020

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Methanol

World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to “Arctic Tern” via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel “M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan”.
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World Fuel and partners complete first green methanol bunkering of car carrier in Shanghai

Marine fuel provider World Fuel on Tuesday (21 July) said it successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, with EUKOR Car Carriers and SIPG Energy at the Port of Shanghai. 

Arctic Tern is the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers. 

The operation involved the delivery of approximately 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy’s dedicated methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation. 

The bunkering operation was carried out at Haitong Terminal, Waigaoqiao Port Area, Shanghai Port, with cargo handling operations conducted simultaneously during bunkering.

This marks EUKOR Car Carriers’ first green methanol operation and the first time Arctic Tern has bunkered methanol since its delivery on 9 July. The operation marked the first bunkering at Shanghai Port of green methanol produced locally in Shanghai for an international PCTC operator. 

It also demonstrated the city’s integrated green methanol value chain, spanning local production, storage and bunkering, and established a replicable “Shanghai Model” for green methanol supply.

World Fuel arranged the supply and delivery of the fuel on behalf of EUKOR Car Carriers, working with SIPG Energy as the physical supplier at the Port of Shanghai.

The green methanol supplied was produced from municipal solid waste, ISCC-EU certified, and had a carbon intensity value below 25 gCO₂e/MJ.

Arctic Tern is the first of fourteen Shaper Class vessels ordered by Wallenius Wilhelmsen. With a capacity of 9,300 car equivalent units and methanol dual-fuel capability, the vessel will be operated by EUKOR Car Carriers, jointly owned by Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Motor Group. Following her first green methanol bunkering, Arctic Tern will continue her maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.

Xavier Leroi, COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen and CEO of EUKOR Car Carriers, said: “Completing Arctic Tern’s first green methanol bunkering shortly after delivery is a significant milestone towards our decarbonisation ambition for both EUKOR Car Carriers and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It demonstrates how investments in next-generation vessel technology and fuel flexibility are being translated into real-world operations. 

“This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between all parties involved. Together, we have shown how partnerships across the maritime value chain can help make lower-emission fuels available and operationally viable at scale.”

Mark Tamsitt, SVP Global Marine Sales at World Fuel, said, “The first bunkering event with a new fuel is a significant moment for any shipowner, and our role is to make it as seamless as possible. By connecting EUKOR Car Carriers with SIPG Energy’s proven green methanol capability at the Port of Shanghai, we were able to deliver on reliable supply, fuel quality, and safe processes. As more of our customers bring methanol dual-fuel tonnage into service, we are committed to being the partner that makes these kinds of operations routine.”

Mr. Zhang Da, General Manager of SIPG Energy, said, “Welcoming Arctic Tern to the Port of Shanghai for her first green methanol bunkering demonstrates the strength and maturity of our supply capability. Building on our well-established methanol ship-to-ship bunkering services for container vessels, we have already extended such services to pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs). This bunkering sets a new record for the largest single SIMOPs green methanol bunkering for PCTCs in China, marking another step in building Shanghai’s position as a global green energy hub for international shipping.”

This operation follows Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s announcement on 9 July that Arctic Tern would complete her first methanol bunkering shortly after delivery. The vessel entered service on routes between Asia and Europe immediately following handover from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing.

 

Photo credit: World Fuel
Published: 22 July, 2026

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Ammonia

HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

HPA says the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.
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HPA and MB Energy develop safety concept for STS ammonia bunkering

The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy on Tuesday (21 July) said they have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.

MB Energy said the analysis lays the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.

“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable land side supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports,” it said in a social media post. 

Mabanaft Group was renamed to MB Energy last year and merged over 50 existing brands under one identity. 

Separately, HPA said the Port of Hamburg will become “bunker ready” for ammonia, laying the groundwork for safe and reliable ammonia bunkering in the future.

“The focus is in particular on container ships, cruise ships as well as RoRo and ConRo (Container/RoRo) ships,” it said. 

“We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.:

HPA added that the import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. 

“The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond in the future,” it said.

Related: Mabanaft Group renames as MB Energy, merging over 50 brands under one identity

 

Photo credit: Hamburg Port Authority
Published: 22 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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