Green Energy developer Fortescue, Perth, Western Australia, announced on March 15 that it has successfully conducted the world’s first use of ammonia, in combination with diesel, in the combustion process as a marine fuel onboard the Singapore-flagged ammonia-powered vessel Fortescue Green Pioneer, in the Port of Singapore.
The vessel was loaded with liquid ammonia from the existing ammonia facility at Vopak Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island for the seven-week fuel trial. Fortescue said the trial was conducted with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) government agencies, research institutes, and industry partners.
In completing the fuel trial, the vessel also received flag approval from the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) and the “Gas Fuelled Ammonia” notation by classification society DNV to use ammonia, in combination with diesel, as a marine fuel.
The vessel started its journey to becoming the world’s first oceangoing ammonia-powered vessel in 2022, when Fortescue successfully converted a four-stroke engine to run on ammonia, in combination with diesel, at its land-based testing facility in Perth. Following the success of the land-based testing, conversion work commenced on the vessel at Seatrium’s Benoi yard from July 2023.
Two of vessel’s four engines were converted to enable the use of ammonia, combined with diesel in the combustion process, to power the vessel. The two remaining engines onboard will operate on conventional fuels when required.