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Maritime majors come together for ammonia-fuelled ship

Four leading firms from across the global shipping industry have joined forces to develop a vessel that can run on ammonia. 

The announcement comes as the maritimesector is grappling with increasing regulatory pressure to develop clean alternatives to polluting heavy fuel oil. 

According to the NGO Transport & Environment, large ocean-going ships will require liquid hydrogen and liquid ammonia, produced with zero emission electricity, to fully decarbonise. Issues with weight and energy storage mean that batteries are a practical solution only for predictable, shortsea routes.

The new initiative – which brings together engine manufacturer MAN, shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries, classification society Lloyd’s Register and maritime energy services company MISC Berhad – will aim to develop an ammonia-fuelled tanker. 

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN Agency responsible for regulating shipping, has called for a reduction in the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions of at least 50% by 2050 compared with 2008 levels. 

‘We all know that the industry-wide movement is vital, and new zero carbon fuel technologies, such as ammonia fuel, are to be brought on the table, in order to take action proactively on maritime greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the IMO’s ambitious road map,’ says Joon Ou Nam, President & CEO of Samsung Heavy Industries. 

International shipping currently accounts for 2.2% of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to figures from the IMO – just a fraction more than aviation’s current 2% share. 
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