In just five years, ammonia has gone from a research idea to practical tests as a ship fuel. But obstacles remain. A new report from DNV outlines a two-step pathway for overcoming these challenges.

“What do a weightlifter and a ship have in common? Both run on ammonia. That might be the kind of joke people crack in the future.” This is how Lighthouse began its first article on ammonia in 2019 – a text that put the spotlight on a new research project aimed at investigating the chemical’s potential as a future ship fuel.

Since then, a lot has happened. Today, engines capable of running on ammonia are almost ready for installation on 39 newly ordered vessels, and several of the world’s largest ports are preparing for safe bunkering of ammonia. According to DNV’s report Ammonia in Shipping: Tracing the Emergence of a New Fuel, interest in ammonia has surged further since the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in April approved its Net-Zero framework, aiming for net zero emissions by 2050.

“The groundwork for ammonia as a fuel is being laid, and the orderbook proves it’s no longer just a theoretical fuel,” says Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime, in the report’s foreword.

But 39 ships are, of course, only a drop in the ocean. No matter how you look at it, the first ordered ammonia-powered vessels are better seen as pilot initiatives than large-scale solutions. Because there are obstacles ahead. Substantial ones. Ammonia is toxic and expensive to produce in green or blue form, and global production capacity is still very limited. Bunkering infrastructure – that is, fuel handling in ports – is only at the testing stage in a few hubs such as Singapore and Rotterdam. In addition, clearer international regulations and standards are required for safety, crewing, and training, DNV writes.

“With targeted financial support mechanisms for a pioneering fleet, supply and infrastructure developments and robust safety regulations, we can progress. While we have seen great progress recently, the next years will determine the role of blue and green ammonia in the future fuel mix,” says Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen.

In the report, DNV proposes a two-step model for integrating ammonia into shipping’s fuel mix. First, a pioneer fleet should be built – a few dozen vessels, crewed by a few hundred specially trained seafarers. This will require bunkering a few million tons of ammonia from around ten ports. Then comes the real challenge: global infrastructure, large-scale production, and binding regulation from IMO.

Test bunkerings in Rotterdam and Singapore show that the infrastructure is feasible and on its way. Production is expected to grow to 14 million tons per year by 2030. Linda Hammer, lead author of the report, emphasizes that the next big hurdle is standardization.

“Scaling up use of ammonia as ship fuel requires a framework of standardized solutions that can be easily adopted across the industry.”

To the report