Mitsubishi sets its sights on a bunkering vessel for ammonia
Japanese shipping major Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and oil & gas major INPEX have completed a conceptual study for an ammonia bunkering vessel.
PHOTO: Concept design of the ammonia bunkering vessel. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi plans to commercialise the concept after discussions with maritime companies.
“The joint concept study involved the evaluation of a highly versatile ammonia bunkering vessel with sufficient tank capacity and manoeuvrability as well as infrastructure compatible with a variety of ammonia-powered vessel types,” says INPEX.
Since ammonia is becoming a more popular alternative marine fuel, there has been an increase in ammonia bunkering concepts over the last year, particularly from Asian shipping companies.
In September last year, the ammonia bunkering vessel concept developed by Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) was approved by the classification society ClassNK. Also, Hong Lam Marine and PaxOcean, headquartered in Singapore, collaborated with Bureau Veritas to design an ammonia bunker vessel.
Mitsubishi has also developed ammonia-fuelled vessel concepts, as it anticipates strong demand for ammonia due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In a joint project with Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) and trading firm Mitsui, the shipbuilder designed a 210,000-dwt ammonia-fueled bulk carrier that ClassNK approved last year.
The company also conducted two conceptual studies last year, one with MOL for an ammonia-floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) and one for a very large gas carrier (VLGC) powered by LPG with an option to run on ammonia.
It also plans to develop other alternative fuel vessels in addition to ammonia to accelerate the shipping sector's decarbonisation.
By Konica Bhatt
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