Yara International ASA, Oslo, and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have joined the Ammonia-fueled Tanker Joint Development Project (JDP). Other partners includeMISC Berhad, Lloyd’s Register, Samsung Heavy Industries, and MAN Energy Solutions.
JDP’s goal is to develop ammonia propulsion ships to support the maritime industry’s drive to decarbonization. JDP also announced a name for the expanded coalition – The Castor Initiative.
“Supporting the enabling role of ammonia in the energy transition, we recognize the need for value chain collaboration to make zero emission shipping by using ammonia as a fuel a reality,” said Magnus Ankarstrand, EVP Clean Ammonia, Yara.
“Decarbonization remains a key priority for the maritime sector, not just in Singapore but globally,” said MPA Chief Executive Ms. Quah Ley Hoon. “As a transshipment and bunkering hub, we are committed to meet IMO2030/2050 decarbonization goals. We are also looking forward to collaborating with like-minded industry partners to support the development and trials of alternative future marine fuels such as ammonia.”
JDP said the addition of the new members means that the alliance will now have complete representation from all areas of the maritime ecosystem. It said the experience and expertise of each partner will be central to the success of the initiative, from conception to project realization.
The announcement follows a key project milestone in September 2020, when Lloyd’s awarded Approval in Principle to Samsung Heavy Industries for its ammonia-fueled tanker design with the aim of commercializing these developments by 2024.
JDP said to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 ambitions on halving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2008 levels, zero-carbon vessels need to enter the world fleet by 2030.
While ammonia is one of the fuels being considered by maritime stakeholders, JDP said the partners recognize that the shipping industry will need to explore multiple decarbonization pathways, and hope their collaboration will spur others in the maritime industry to join forces on addressing this global challenge.