Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center unveils design of ammonia-fueled box ship

The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping and its partners have revealed the design of a new 15,000 TEU container ship fuelled by ammonia that will be part of a study on ammonia bunkering in Singapore. Seaspan Corp. led the design project, which also included ABS and design house Foreship. The ship has 21 40-foot bays and a house separated from the stack and located five bays behind the bow. The vessel is part of the SABER Consortium, focused on demonstrating an ammonia supply chain in Singapore. Participants include AP Moller – Maersk, Fleet Management Limited, Keppel Offshore & Marine, and Sumitomo Corporation.

MSC has also announced plans to design an ammonia vessel. Their project will include collaboration with CSSC, MAN, and LR. The new Seaspan/Maersk McKinney Moller Center boxship project is part of the SABER Consortium, a partnership developing an ammonia supply chain in Singapore. In May 2022, the consortium secured an AIP from ABS for an ammonia bunker ship and the partners hope to be operational by 2030.

Singaporean authorities recently put the brakes on launching a separate, parallel ammonia bunker test, citing safety concerns. In April, a study by the Global Center for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) concluded that the risks from ammonia are low and manageable and that the GCMD should proceed with its own bunkering and fuel handling pilot tests by the end of 2023. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) refused, saying it did not agree and that “the end-2023 timeline is not realistic”. They cited further safety studies on leak spread as necessary before approving the pilot tests.

The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping is dedicated to developing zero-carbon fuel for shipping to help reduce the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. The shipping industry is responsible for approximately 2% to 3% of global emissions. Ammonia is considered by some to be a promising fuel as it has no carbon emissions and can be produced through green methods, such as wind power. However, the gas is toxic and explosive, posing some safety concerns. The SABER Consortium aims to develop and test the infrastructure necessary for handling and transporting ammonia as a marine fuel.

Tags: MPA


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