LLOYD’S Register and ClassNK have issued approvals in principle for an ammonia-fuelled liquefied gas carrier.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding are developing the vessel as part of a joint project.

The ship’s main engine, currently under development, is designed to use ammonia as a fuel.

MOL said the mid-sized ammonia/LPG carrier will use some of the ammonia loaded as cargo as fuel.

It said because there are currently no international regulations on the use of ammonia as marine fuel, the three participating companies carried out hazard identification studies with ClassNK and LR.

Ken Furuya, Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding’s executive officer and general manager of sales department, said the three companies appreciated the support and co-operation of ClassNK and LR.

“This AiP is an important milestone for us. We will continue to make an effort to complete this project successfully,” he said.

“Anticipating an increase in the need for ammonia as a marine fuel and greater demand for transporting it, the three companies are committed to playing a role in society’s overall decarbonisation efforts by providing clean ocean transport solutions with the zero emission ocean-going vessels.”

LR Yokohama technical support office manager Seiji Hamanaka said LR was pleased to offer experience in hazard identification for ammonia safety.

“We are proud to support this JDP and its ongoing decarbonisation efforts with the award of Approval in Principle for Mitsui’s Ammonia-Fuelled LCO2 carrier,” he said.

Masaki Matsunaga, ClassNK’s corporate officer, director of plan approval and technical solution division, said ClassNK was also pleased to be involved.

“ClassNK is honoured to have had the opportunity to be involved as a certification body in this concrete effort toward decarbonisation through close collaboration among MOL, Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, and has issued the AiP as a milestone.

“For the project’s target to achieve net zero CO2 emissions while underway, we will continue to provide necessary support through its technical expertise.”