Ocean Network Express is taking a bet on ammonia as a marine fuel for its next generation of container ships.
The Singapore-based liner giant revealed on Monday that it has obtained approval in principle for an ammonia dual-fuel container ship design developed as part of a joint project established in late 2022 together with Japan’s Nihon Shipyard and class society DNV.
The design is for a 3,500-teu vessel.
ONE’s investment in future fuels has until now been methanol-focused. In early January, the company put pen to paper on an order for a dozen methanol dual-fuel 13,000-teu container ship newbuildings in China.
The company said at the time that the order would play a key role in reaching its sustainability goals on its journey towards net zero by 2050.
On Monday, ONE said the design for the ammonia dual-fuel vessel was another milestone in that journey. The company said it has been studying the feasibility of ammonia as an alternative fuel for zero emissions and participated in a Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation-led ammonia bunkering pilot safety study.
“Ammonia is definitely one of the primary focuses of our research as ammonia fuel has a great potential of generating lower GHG emissions than conventional marine fuels. We are pleased to have made such progress, and we will continue our study on ammonia,” said Koshiro Wake, ONE’s senior vice president of corporate strategy and sustainability.
Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria — regional manager, South East Asia, Pacific & India, maritime at project partner DNV — which issued the approval in principle, said the classification society was confident that its rules for ammonia will help its customers safely adopt ammonia as a fuel type once the infrastructure is in place.
“Ammonia is one of the promising future marine fuels with great potential to decarbonise shipping … We are grateful to our JDP partners for entrusting us with this pioneering project that will help the entire maritime industry to adopt ammonia as a marine fuel,” Saenz said.
The liner sector has embraced methanol as a marine fuel, with most of the mainline majors and a growing number of feeder operators signing up at shipyards for methanol dual-fuel newbuildings, with pioneer vessels already starting to enter service.
Ammonia has been slower to gain traction, with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co demonstrating the most substantial interest thus far.
