Ammonia News

Many claim to have ‘saltwater in their veins,’ but all you have to do is walk into the corner office of John McDonald, the new Chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), to see that him saying “I was born into maritime” is not hyperbole. The first thing that greets you is a Dusan Kadlec nighttime painting of the Brooklyn Bridge, a painting that has special meaning to him as he fondly remembers being on a boat in New York harbor in 1983, his father USCG Captain of the Port of New York at that time, watching the fireworks over the bridge for the celebration.

Belgian shipowner Exmar has named two ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel midsize gas carriers, said to be the world’s first, marking a milestone in the development of low-emission shipping.The two vessels, ANTWERPEN and ARLON, were built in South Korea in cooperation with HD Hyundai as part of a multi-year development programme.Each vessel has a cargo capacity of about 46,000 cubic metres, including 45,000 cubic metre cargo tanks and two 500 cubic metre deck tanks. The design incorporates…

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has secured an order from Energy ONE Limited to build four ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers, marking the first such vessels to be constructed in India.The contract covers four 92,500-deadweight tonne bulk carriers, which will be among the largest commercial ships built at an Indian yard, the company said.The vessels will measure about 229.5 meters in length with a beam of 37 meters and will be equipped with ammonia-fueled propulsion systems.

The trade of global fertilizer and ammonia faces intense pressure due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as diplomatic talks between the US and Iran remain uncertain. Rystad Energy’s 2025 trade mapping shows that the sale of 15% of global ammonia and 21% of urea, which is used as a high-nitrogen fertilizer, are tied to exporters potentially impacted by the closure. This includes leading producers Saudi Arabia and Qatar, followed by Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Iran and Iraq.

lomarlabs has entered a collaboration with Blaze Energy to pilot a third-generation, compact, engine-integrated fuel reformer designed to accelerate the practical adoption of alternative fuels in commercial shipping.The collaboration will culminate in a pilot installation onboard a Lomar vessel, enabling Blaze Energy to validate its multi-fuel reforming system, under real marine operating conditions. The Flex-Fuel Reformer converts ammonia, methanol, or LNG into hydrogen directly onboard the ship…

Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., and NYK Bulkship (Asia) Pte. Ltd. have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly conduct a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and explore the ownership of a Newbuild Ammonia Bunkering Vessel (“N-ABV”) for application in Singapore. This collaboration underscores the parties’ shared commitment to enabling the development of a robust ammonia supply chain in Singapore, supporting its emerging role as a global…

Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) and NYK Bulkship (Asia) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly conduct a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and explore the ownership of a newbuild ammonia bunkering vessel for application in Singapore.The MoU is in support of the ammonia value chain development initiative that is jointly led by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the country’s Energy Market Authority (EMA).

Australia’s Pilbara Ports has taken a step further towards development of a low-carbon ammonia bunkering hub in the Pilbara by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yara Pilbara.The Yara Pilbara plant is one of the largest ammonia production facilities in the world, utilising world-class export infrastructure in the Port of Dampier.The MoU advances the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Initiative as the two organisations have agreed to work collaboratively on government and stakeholder advocacy…

ClassNK has issued approvals in principle (AiPs) for the concept designs of Bulk Carrier installed with a Membrane-based Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage System (OCCS) and 83,000m3 Ammonia Carrier with IMO Type B Independent Tank developed by Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. These AiPs demonstrate its feasibility from regulatory and safety perspectives.The recipients of the AiPs, as well as the applicable rules and guidelines, are as follows:Bulk Carrier installed with Membrane-based OCCSRecipients: Oshima Shipbuilding Co.…

Swiss marine power company WinGD has completed both Type Approval Testing (TAT) and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) of its ammonia-fueled two-stroke marine engine, marking a milestone in efforts to decarbonize shipping.The test programs were completed in January 2026 on the X52DF-A-1.0 engine at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery (HHI-EMD) facility in South Korea. The tests were witnessed by classification society Lloyd’s Register together with representatives from major classification societies…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has shipped the first ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) and ammonia gas abatement system (AGAS) for Japan Engine Corporation.The systems are designed for J-ENG’s first ammonia-fueled marine engine model 7UEC50LSJA-HPSCR and represent the first units produced by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding. Commissioning work for the systems will begin in due course.The AFSS is designed to supply ammonia fuel to the engine in a stable and safe manner…

The shipping industry's biggest players are shrugging off Trump administration opposition to a global carbon price and are forging ahead with billions of dollars in emissions-reducing investments, according to company officials and a Reuters analysis of data.Europe, Brazil and a host of other nations are pushing the sector, which is responsible for nearly 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, to go green. But, in October, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, the world's two largest oil producers…

Commissioned and published by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), a new report focused on the safety of ammonia as a marine fuel was developed by an ABS-led consortium that included the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and the Fundación Valenciaport.Based on the insights gained from the study, the report includes recommendations that expand upon existing interim guidelines from the International Maritime Organization for the safety of ships using ammonia as fuel.

While the IMO has established interim guidelines to facilitate the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, international standards governing the safe treatment and discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated during vessel operations have yet to be developed.Unlike typical aqueous ammonia, this effluent exhibits different physical and chemical characteristics, and the lack of clearly applicable international standards has created uncertainty for ship design, operation, and environmental management.In response…

A new research project at the National University of Singapore (NUS) aims to accelerate the decarbonization of the global shipping industry through the development of next-generation ammonia-fueled marine engines with high efficiency and near-zero emissions.The project focuses on a novel in-cylinder reforming gas recirculation (IRGR) engine concept designed to address key limitations that have so far constrained the wider adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel.Project leader Associate…

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its Wärtsilä 25 ammonia solution to power a new cargo vessel for Norway-based Skarv Shipping Solutions, marking the first newbuild to use the company’s four-stroke ammonia engine technology.The vessel will be constructed at Huanghai shipyard in China and is intended to support Skarv Shipping Solutions’ strategy to deliver sustainable short-sea shipping services in Northern Europe.Wärtsilä will provide the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine together with the complete fuel gas supply system and exhaust after-treatment…

CF Industries, Trafigura and TFG Marine have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate the adoption of low-carbon ammonia as a marine fuel.Building on the successful collaboration between CF Industries and Trafigura in the shipment of low-carbon ammonia, the agreement establishes a framework for the parties to work together on advancing low-carbon ammonia as a marine fuel, supporting the global shipping industry's emissions-reduction efforts.Under the MOU, CF Industries…

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has announced a landmark revision to its Unified Requirement UR M78, introducing comprehensive safety requirements for marine engines fueled by ammonia. This update marks a pivotal step toward achieving the maritime industry’s decarbonization goals and supporting the transition to zero-carbon fuels.The newly published Rev.4 of UR M78 expands its scope to include ammonia as an approved fuel for reciprocating internal combustion engines.

Anglo-Eastern Maritime Training Centre (AEMTC) has successfully completed its inaugural pilot training course on ammonia as a marine fuel.Held on November 24–25, the two-day program brought together 26 participants from a wide spectrum of shipboard ranks, including Masters, Chief Engineers, senior officers, and junior engineers, who travelled from across India to take part in the specialised training.Pioneered by Prasad Nayak, General Manager of Training at Anglo-Eastern, the…

Amon Maritime was awarded investment grants of NOK 298 million ($29m) from Enova to support the construction of three new ammonia-fueled bulk carriers.The vessels, each in the Kamsarmax segment with a capacity of approximately 80,000–85,000 DWT, are designed to combine high energy efficiency with carbon free fuel. Fully aligned with the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the FuelEU Maritime regulation, they are designed for the future, delivering strong…

Japanese power generator JERA has signed separate heads of agreements with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and NYK Group for the charter of ammonia carriers, as it moves toward establishing Japan’s first large-scale low-carbon ammonia transport chain.Under the agreements, MOL and NYK affiliates will charter vessels designed to transport low-carbon ammonia produced at JERA’s Blue Point Complex in Louisiana to JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station in central Japan. The arrangements are…

MISC and China Offshore Engineering & Technology Company have received the Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for their design of an ammonia floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.This innovative floater solution adapts proven onshore production technology for offshore operations, transforming unutilized hydrocarbon gas from nearby offshore facilities into high-value blue ammonia, which is stored onboard at cryogenic conditions.This…

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases Group (Nikkiso CE&IG) launched a new high-pressure fuel gas supply systems (FGSS) specifically designed to power the next generation of cleaner, more efficient ships with lower emissions and greater efficiency.Nikkiso CE&IG’s innovation in FGSS is engineered to deliver and sustain pressures well beyond today’s standards of 380-420 bar, regardless of fuel source, aimed at enabling the transition to lower-carbon fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG)…