ABS approves ammonia bunker vessel
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has given an approval in principle to a 33,000 cbm-capacity ammonia bunker vessel being developed by Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) to supply vessels in Singapore.
PHOTO: ABS issues an approval in principle to Keppel Offshore & Marine's ammonia bunker vessel. ABS
Demand for ammonia is expected to rise over the coming decades as ammonia-fuelled ships enter the global fleet. But there is a lack of bunker infrastructure that could enable these ships to fill up their tanks when moving across regions.
In addition to supplying other vessels with ammonia, Keppel O&M's bunker vessel will also be fuelled by ammonia. It is being developed as part of Project Sabre, which has backing from a consortium of shipping companies and the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore. They have set out to develop an ammonia bunker supply chain in Singapore.
The consortium includes A.P. Moller – Maersk, Fleet Management Limited, the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Japanese trading company Sumitomo Corporation and Japanese shipping firm Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line).
The group conducted a feasibility study for setting up an end-to-end ammonia bunker supply chain in Singapore last year.
ABS' global sustainability director Panos Koutsourakis says ammonia has great potential as a future fuel for shipowners, operators and ports. The shipping classification society is working with Project Sabre and other partners to understand operational and safety considerations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.
