MOL and Sasaki Shipbuilding  AiP supports ammonia bunkering progress

Bureau Veritas (BV) has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia (NH3) bunkering vessel designed by Sasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Sasaki) on January 31, 2024. The vessel design is based on a joint study of ammonia bunkering rules between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Ltd. and BV. 

BV and MOL have been studying the potential of ammonia bunkering since 2022, creating a foundation for this AiP. Sasaki were then invited by MOL to design the 12,000m3 NH3 bunkering vessel based on BV’s Rules.

For the purposes of the AiP, BV reviewed Sasaki’s design with consideration to its NR 620 Rules for bunkering ships and NR 467 Rules for the classification of steel ships. The vessel is also eligible for BV’s CLEANSHIP and GREENPASSPORT additional class notations.

The AiP was handed over by Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice-President, BV Marine & Offshore, and Alex Gregg-Smith, Senior Vice President & Chief Executive, BV Marine & Offshore North Asia and China, to Mr.Makoto Yamaguchi, Chief Technical Officer, MOL, and Mr.Jiro Sasaki, Chief Operating Officer, Sasaki, during a ceremony at Head office of MOL in Tokyo.

Left to right: Makoto Yamaguchi (MOL), Matthieu de Tugny (BV) Jiro Saihei Sasaki (Sasaki), Alex Gregg-Smith (BV)