Page 210 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025

Horizon from the bridge
Credit: Fortescue
208
Ammonia Bunkering Shipping Pte. Ltd.
(CABS), will be the world’s first newbuild-
ing ammonia bunkering vessel. It will be
constructed alongside an ammonia tank
plant to be built by Izumi Steel Works Ltd.
The vessel is expected to be delivered in
September 2027, according to the com-
pany announcement, with ammonia
bunkering demonstrations in Singapore
scheduled to begin shortly thereafter.
The project is part of the Demonstration
Project for Bunkering Ammonia as Marine
Fuel in Singapore, adopted by Japan’s
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
under its Global South Future-oriented
Co-Creation Project. The vessel will be
flagged under the Singapore Registry.
ITOCHU plans to establish a safe off-
shore bunkering operation of ammonia as
marine fuel by way of ship-to-ship transfer
readiness and preparedness of the crew in and aims to expand this business model to
the event of an incident. All crew attained other major maritime hubs, including Spain
the necessary proficiencies on the new (Strait of Gibraltar), Egypt (Suez Canal), and
enhanced procedures prior to the trials. Japan.
Fortescue engaged DNV to be part of the The development comes as the Interna-
innovation process from the very early tional Maritime Organisation (IMO) contin-
stages of this project. The “Fortescue ues its push toward reducing greenhouse
Green Pioneer’s” ammonia fuel systems gas emissions from international shipping
and engine conversion received class to net-zero by around 2050. In April 2025,
approval by DNV, based on its Technol- international approval was granted for draft
ogy Qualification process, to ensure that convention revisions that include systems
the new technology and systems fitted for phasing in alternative low-emission fuels
onboard, which were not covered under and providing economic incentives for zero
existing regulations, will function within or near-zero emission vessels.
specified limits and acceptable levels of Ammonia bunkering vessels are drawing
confidence. attention globally as important facilities
Finally, a tranche of approximately 6.4 m3 in the fuel supply chain that play the last
(4.4 tonnes) of liquid ammonia was loaded one-mile role in connecting the maritime
on the vessel for this new set of trials. and fuel industries, according to ITOCHU.
Fortescue revealed that a designated test More pilot projects with limited quantities
area along Raffles Reserved Anchorage was of ammonia are required, and fully effec-
secured by Singapore’s MPA for the trials, tive risk assessments will be revised by
and the Emergency Operations Centre the experience gained. The pilot projects
(EOC) was set up at the MPA’s Port Oper- should be extended to all geographical
ations Control Centre for representatives of areas where the project aims to develop
the MPA, Fortescue, Vopak, research insti- ammonia fuel supply infrastructures, con-
tutes, and government agencies to monitor sidering the local and climatic properties of
the fuel loading and sea trial operations. each geographical point (weather, currents,
After the successful trial of bunkering prevailing winds).
ammonia, the Japan-based ITOCHU Cor- Finally, it should be clearly understood
poration has signed a shipbuilding contract that the supply of fuel from shore to ship
for a 5,000 m3 ammonia bunkering vessel in terms of design and safety measures has
with Sasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., mark- a huge difference with the supply from ship
ing a significant step forward in maritime to ship, and we know this from our experi-
decarbonisation efforts. ence in the supply of conventional fuels.
The vessel, ordered through ITOCHU’s
wholly owned Singapore subsidiary Clean
NX