Japanese duo’s ammonia-fuelled vessel design gets DNV nod

Classification society DNV has approved the design of an ammonia-fuelled Kamsarmax bulk carrier developed by Japanese shipping companies - Sumitomo Corporation and Oshima Shipbuilding.

PHOTO: Representatives at the approval presentation. DNV

The DNV approval affirms that the design meets the "technical requirements and safety standards” following a hazard identification study on the risks associated with using ammonia as fuel.

The design is a result of a collaboration agreement signed between the Japanese duo in 2021.

Takanaru Toyota, general manager, Ship & Marine Project Dept. of Sumitomo Corporation, said that the approval will accelerate “the development and promotion of ammonia-fuelled ships.”

Meanwhile, Oshima Shipbuilding’s president Eiichi Hiraga believes that “an ammonia fuel ship is a powerful forward-thinking solution to decarbonizing the maritime industry” and they “will endeavour to optimize these designs further.”

Ammonia has been gaining traction as a bunker fuel due to its relative ease of storage, transportation, and efficiency compared to other alternative fuels with zero-carbon potential.

Late last year, Japanese shipping firm Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha’s (K Line) ammonia-fuelled newcastlemax bulk carrier design was approved by classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK).

By Tuhin Roy

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