The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced interim guidelines for using ammonia as a marine fuel, but comprehensive international standards for managing and discharging toxic ammonia effluent remain undeveloped. This effluent, differing significantly from typical aqueous ammonia, poses challenges in ship design, operation, and environmental management due to the absence of clear regulations.
In response to this gap, the Korean Register (KR) has partnered with various organizations, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and several major shipbuilding companies, to form an international working group. Launched in June 2025, this group aims to establish safety management and marine discharge standards for ammonia effluent.
The working group convened on February 5, 2026, at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center to enhance collaboration on developing these international standards. Over the next two years, the group plans to submit draft standards to the IMO Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR).
At the upcoming 13th session of the IMO PPR, the Korean delegation will emphasize the urgent need for guidelines on ammonia effluent management and propose the creation of an Expert Group for detailed technical discussions.
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