Ammonia

An overview of ammonia as fuel for ships

Ammonia is a widely traded chemical commodity that has long been transported in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers, which are also able to carry ammonia.

When produced using renewable energy, ammonia becomes “green ammonia,” a zero-carbon fuel from production to use. This provides shipowners a fuel option that could have no well-to-wake CO₂ emissions, which will assist in meeting International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 emissions reduction targets.

However, ammonia also presents challenges: it is toxic at low concentrations, presenting health and safety concerns for crew members. To use ammonia onboard, shipowners must ensure it is handled safely in compliance with applicable requirements.

When transported as cargo, ammonia is regulated through the IGC Code. For ships looking to use ammonia as fuel, design requirements can be found in our newly issued NR 671 Rules. The design will have to be assessed through Alternative Design procedure of the IGF Code and SOLAS regulations.

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What are the advantages of ammonia as fuel?

There are several advantages to using ammonia as a marine fuel:

Zero-carbon Ammonia’s key advantage is its status as a zero-carbon fuel when produced renewably, enabling ships to eliminate CO₂ emissions.
Availability One of the precursors of the molecule, atmospheric nitrogen (N₂), is widely and freely available.
Ammonia storage As a commonly traded commodity, ammonia also benefits from well-developed storage infrastructure and a worldwide terminal network.
Developing technology Internal combustion engines which consume ammonia directly are closer to at-scale development than other solutions for alternative fuels.

Laurent

Leblanc

Senior Vice President, Technical & Operations

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore

We like to think of ammonia as the next iteration of LNG – a low-emission fuel with safety challenges, but enormous decarbonization potential. By combining the right questions with the right tests, we can help de-risk ammonia, enabling our marine clients to benefit from this much-needed zero-carbon fuel.

What are the challenges of ammonia as fuel?

Nonetheless, ammonia has its drawbacks:

Ammonia safety Ammonia is highly toxic to both people and marine life, and its powerful smell can be a physical irritant.
Ammonia storage It has low energy density – about three times less than conventional fuels – requiring greater amounts to be carried onboard and reducing space for other cargo.
Ammonia emissions In terms of emissions, while ammonia combustion releases no CO₂, it may produce nitrous oxide (N₂O), a gas 270 times more potent in terms of greenhouse effects than CO₂.
Ammonia supply The supply of green ammonia is currently extremely limited, and competition from other sectors could make this green fuel expensive.

Bureau Veritas’ services for ammonia fueled ships

Our ammonia Rules and notations

To help de-risk ammonia as fuel, Bureau Veritas is building on our tried-and-tested approach in supporting the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Our experts have already released tentative Rules for ammonia as fuel (NR 671). This will guide shipowners toward safe onboard transportation and consumption.

Ships converting to using ammonia as fuel can take advantage of our AMMONIAFUEL-PREPARED notation.

Get the help you need from our experts

Supporting ammonia pioneers

Providing technical and regulatory expertise, Bureau Veritas is a partner of choice for maritime experts developing ammonia as fuel. Among our many projects, we have collaborated with TotalEnergies to study ammonia leak mitigation and treatment onboard, addressing key safety concerns for ammonia as fuel.

Ammonia as fuel FAQs

Are there ammonia fueled ships in service?

There are currently no in-service ships using ammonia as fuel. Ammonia-fueled engines are not yet commercially available, and no existing vessels are equipped for ammonia propulsion. However, two-stroke and four-stroke ammonia fueled engines are under development, as are regulations for handling ammonia as fuel.
How is ammonia stored and bunkered?

Ammonia can be stored under pressure at atmospheric temperature or in a refrigerated state. This means that ships using ammonia as fuel and bunkering vessels may carry different combinations of pressurized, semi-refrigerated or fully refrigerated ammonia. To ensure safe and successful bunkering operations, ships require specific equipment (e.g., compressors, heat exchangers, vapor return systems) and must follow detailed bunkering procedures
Is ammonia a zero-carbon fuel for ships?

Ammonia can be a zero-carbon fuel from a well-to-wake perspective if it is produced from air and water using renewable energy. This is then known as “green ammonia.” Brown ammonia is produced using fossil fuels and is therefore not a zero-carbon fuel from a well-to-wake perspective.

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What is green ammonia as fuel for ships?

Green ammonia is also known as e-ammonia. It is produced via the Haber-Bosch process, which converts green hydrogen and nitrogen into ammonia. Other methods for producing green ammonia – such as electrochemical nitrogen reduction – are under development, but will take time to mature and become industrialized.
Is ammonia fuel carbon-free?

From a well-to-wake perspective, only green ammonia or e-ammonia can be considered carbon-free. Ammonia produced from fossil fuels in fact has a worse well-to-wake emissions footprint than heavy fuel oil. To truly decarbonize shipping, ammonia must be produced from renewable energy and a low-carbon supply chain.
Can ammonia fuel be used for CII compliance?

It is unlikely that green ammonia will be ready for use by the time CII compliance is required. For now, short-term measures such as improving energy efficiency or using low-carbon fuels are better solutions. In the long-term, however, green ammonia may be a route to compliance, particularly if IMO regulations evolve to take a well-to-wake approach to emissions.
Is ammonia fuel expensive?

While fossil fuel-based ammonia is cheap and widely traded, green ammonia is expensive and in short supply. From a production perspective, increasing green ammonia will require the scaling up of renewable energy infrastructure for green hydrogen. From a market perspective, the price of green ammonia will depend on competition from other sectors, making costs hard to predict. Beyond this, shipowners must also factor in the costs of integrating technology onboard and training crew in safe ammonia handling.