Big names line up behind ammonia dual-fuel box ship design

Lloyd’s Register (LR), Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), Shanghai Merchant Ship Design Research Institute (SDARI) and MAN Energy Solutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance the design for the ammonia dual-fuel operation of an 8,200-TEU container ship.

The MoU was signed at Lloyd’s Registers’ Container Ship Forum at SMM in Hamburg on 5 September. The MoU now includes the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR).

The agreement is a continuation of the existing joint development project which began in May 2023, geared towards developing the technical and operational feasibility of ammonia fuel for an 8,200-TEU ship designed by SDARI and currently under construction in China.

This second phase looks to adopt the upcoming interim guidelines from IMO for ammonia as fuel, due later this month, to enhance and mature the design.

Under the first MoU, technical specification and the associated design documents were developed for an ammonia fuel variant of SDARI’s twin island 8,200-TEU container ship design, a process that was augmented by a rigorous multi-stakeholder risk-based certification approach, covering all elements of the design and intended operational profile of the vessel.

SDARI vice-president Zhou Zhiyong commented, “We are delighted we have the opportunity to continue this exciting project, which is so important to assess the risks and opportunities of using zero-carbon fuels like ammonia and for sharing these learnings across the maritime supply chain.”

For this next project phase, SDARI will prepare the consolidated specifications and design documentation of the ammonia dual-fuel variant, while LR and LISCR will verify the design conforms with safety standards and rules relating to the usage of ammonia as a marine fuel.

Engine manufacturer MAN has delivered data for SDARI to design the engineroom, ammonia fuel supply and emissions abatement systems. 

MSC could soon have the option of adopting ammonia as a zero-carbon main propulsion fuel for future newbuilding contracts. The company’s head of newbuilding, Giuseppe Gargiulo said, “We are pleased to continue our strong working relationship in this important project to develop and test the feasibility of an ammonia-fuelled container ship.”