China Completes World-First Commercial Green Ammonia Refueling at Sea
A green-ammonia-powered ship departed on a ‘world-first’ commercial ocean voyage across the Pacific from the Chinese port of Zhoushan to Australia, carrying nearly 1,000 metric tonnes (t) of certified ammonia. The journey began earlier this week after the world’s first commercial ship-to-ship transfer of green ammonia as marine propulsion fuel.
The bulk carrier Mineral Europa received green ammonia during the bunkering operation, a ship-to-ship fuel transfer. It has a carrying capacity of 210,000 deadweight tons (DWT), the estimated maximum weight the ship can safely carry. The fuel was pumped across a hose to Mineral Europa by a converted bunkering vessel, Shenghang Yongle, which entered service less than five weeks before the operation.
CEEC Hydrogen Energy Co., Compagnie Maritime Belge Technology (CMB.TECH), a Belgium-based transport company, and Jiangsu Andefu Energy Technology Co. jointly handled the bunkering operation, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN), a Chinese media group. In a statement, Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, called Mineral Europa the beginning of a “propulsion revolution” and said it proves large ocean-going ships “can be powered by ammonia.”
Green Ammonia Supply Chain Milestone
The green ammonia, sourced from CEEC’s Songyuan Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park nearly 1,240 miles north of Zhousan, had a voyage of its own. Before reaching the port of Zhoushan, the fuel traveled nearly 435 miles from Songyuan to Nanjing Port by road in a specialized tank. From Nanjing Port, the bunker vessel took over the rest of the journey, carrying 1,000 metric tons of clean fuel before transferring it safely to Mineral Europa.
The bulk carrier now holds the liquid ammonia in two deck-mounted tanks of 106,000 cubic feet, keeping the clean fuel at approximately −27°F. Industry observers called these latest milestones the “missing link” in using green ammonia as a marine fuel. The event silenced critics who doubted the practicality of using ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel at sea.
Commercial Milestone and Future Outlook
The success of the bunkering operation showed that end-to-end green ammonia supply chains can operate under commercial conditions. Before this, all the blocks of the green ammonia supply chain existed in isolation: ammonia-burning engines, vessels fitted to carry it, and offshore production facilities making it from renewable electricity. However, the latest operation connected them, marking a major commercial milestone.
Going forward, the Belgian shipping company is expected to increase its ammonia-powered fleet, taking nearly 21 deliveries of such vessels over the next three years. According to CGTN, the fleet would comprise 18 dry bulk carriers, one container ship, and two chemical tankers, with most deliveries expected by July 2027. Norway, the US Gulf Coast, Southern Africa, and Australia are other regions that are advancing multiple ammonia production and bunkering projects to diversify supply over time.
However, experts cautioned against considering ammonia a globally sustainable maritime fuel because its global fuel network is not yet fully developed. A Norwegian report forecasts that ammonia will become the dominant fuel choice for new ships by 2042. The analysis said this would represent about 25% of maritime fuel by 2050. This implies demand of roughly 120 million metric tons per year of green ammonia by mid-century.
Original Article: China completes world-first commercial green ammonia refueling at sea — Interestingengineering