ABS approves ammonia bunker vessel concept

Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted approval in principle (AiP) to the design of a 22,000-cbm ammonia bunker vessel.

IMAGE: Ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering of an ammonia-capable gas carrier in Japan. Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) jointly developed the vessel design. The companies have not specified whether the vessel will also be powered by ammonia.

As part of the approval process, ABS reviewed the vessel’s overall layout, machinery setup, ammonia cargo handling system and fuel supply system against applicable classification and international standards.

“Bunkering infrastructure is a critical step for any marine fuel to scale, and it has to be implemented with safety designed in from the start,” ABS said.

The classification society added that the design reflects the industry’s need for fuel flexibility while supporting the safe development of ammonia bunkering.

By Konica Bhatt

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