A group of leading maritime industry companies on April 4 announced that they have signed of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to undertake a feasibility study of green ammonia to fuel ships operating on the east coast of the US.
A.P. Moller – Maersk, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Fleet Management Limited (FML), Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Savage Services, Sumitomo Corporation, and TOTE Services signed the MOU to study the establishment of a comprehensive and competitive supply chain for the provision of green ammonia ship-to-ship (StS) bunkering on the US East Coast.
This study is to be conducted at the Port of Savannah and aims to cover the entire end-to-end supply chain of ammonia bunkering, which includes the development of a cost-effective green ammonia supply chain and the design of an Ammonia Bunkering Articulated Tug-Barge (AB-ATB), as well as related supply chain infrastructure.
As part of the study, ABS will conduct operational risk assessment of ammonia StS bunkering and lead in the coordination with relevant authorities in the US to establish port regulations and operational guidelines. Maersk will provide input specific to container vessels and will work on developing safe and reliable ammonia bunkering procedures from the operator’s point of view.
FML will focus on ammonia bunkering procedures from a ship manager point of view, providing technical support in the design development of AmmoniaFueled Vessels and AB-ATB. GPA will support the coordination with relevant authorities in the US to establish port regulations and operational guidelines.
Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center will conduct a well-to-wake life cycle analysis (LCA) of ammonia and support the establishment of standards for the safe use of ammonia as marine fuel. Savage will focus on domestic ammonia transportation for Savannah, leveraging the company’s experience as a domestic ammonia carrier in the US.
Sumitomo plans to structure, integrate, and promote the end-to-end supply chain of green/blue ammonia, which includes sourcing, transportation, storage, and bunkering. Finally, TOTE will develop safe and reliable ammonia bunkering procedures from AB-ATB’s point of view, using its expertise in LNG bunkering in the US.