Singapore looks to start ammonia bunkering from 2026
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) says that it expects to see “earliest ammonia bunkering from 2026,” following the delivery of ammonia-fuelled vessels and availability of safety standards for ammonia bunkering.
PHOTO: Ammonia storage tank (left) in Singapore. Vopak
“The pilots and trials involving the bunkering of new low- and zero-emission fuels require comprehensive preparations, including thorough end-to-end operational and other risk assessments, safety assessments of bunkering and receiving vessels, development of 24/7 operational models, and equipping of the ships’ crews involved,” a representative from MPA tells ENGINE.
As part of the preparation, the MPA has been keeping an eye on engine manufacturers developing ammonia-fuelled engines “to understand their progress and challenges” and actively joining various consortiums that intend to facilitate ammonia bunkering, the representative added. These consortiums include Castor Initiative, Itochu Consortium and SABRE Consortium.
Among these consortiums, the SABRE consortium unveiled an ammonia-fuelled container vessel design at an industry summit in Copenhagen, Denmark in May.
Meanwhile, the Castor Initiative – established in January 2020 – aims to bring in global expertise and study the ecosystem required for ammonia-fuelled tankers to operate sustainably and safely.
Last April, the Castor Initiative partners agreed to build two very large crude carriers (VLCCs) that can run on green ammonia. The vessels are expected to be delivered between 2025-2026 and will present an opportunity for ship crew to experience operating in ammonia vessels.
Other efforts to facilitate ammonia bunkering
The MPA has been collaborating with several industry partners and research firms to conduct “fuel-related studies.” The port authority has also been conducting “several table-top exercises and workshops discussions, to evaluate the risks of handling low and zero-carbon fuels.”
In April, the Singaporean port authority conducted a three-day workshop on “Managing accidents involving ammonia as a fuel for ships” in the Port of Singapore.
MPA said the knowledge gained from these sessions will aid in “the ongoing development of bunkering standards, safety standards, risk assessment and mitigation measures, which must be in place before we can conduct operational bunkering.”
Last December, the MPA and the Energy Market Authority of Singapore launched an Expression of Interest (EOI), for proposals to build, own and operate low- or zero-carbon ammonia bunkering infrastructure and technologies in the port. Currently, they are evaluating the proposals.
Methanol pilot to show the way
In April, MPA’s chief executive Eng Dih Teo said that Singapore will enable the supply of methanol to fuel ships from the third quarter of this year.
The MPA intends to implement the “best practices” learnt from the upcoming methanol bunkering pilot later this month to form the groundwork for the “future bunkering pilot” of ammonia, until “the standards are developed and implemented.”
Also last month, TotalEnergies Marine Fuels partnered with Denmark-based Green Marine Bunkering for a feasibility study to set up a methanol bunker supply in Singapore.
Green shipping corridors to aid transition
“The development of Green and Digital Shipping Corridors (GDSC) aims to support the transition to low- and zero-carbon fuels by ships calling at partners’ ports,” the representative asserts.
The partner ports will aid in building the supply and uptake of these new fuels by developing infrastructure and regulations for bunkering of the same.
The MPA has inked deals with several ports - Port of Rotterdam, Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach – to develop green corridors. Last month, the MPA signed a deal with the Australian government to develop low-and zero-emission fuel supply chains along shipping routes between the two countries.
By Tuhin Roy
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