CLASSIFICATION society DNV has awarded several organisations an approval in principle for the design of a new ammonia-powered gas carrier.
The design was from the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, in collaboration with Nordic Green Ammonia Powered Ships (NoGAPS) partners BW Epic Kosan, Yara, MAN Energy Solutions, Wärtsilä, Global Maritime Forum and Breeze Ship Design.
According to a statement from DNV, one of the promising options for a maritime fuel to drive decarbonisation is ammonia – when produced sustainably from hydrogen generated using renewable electricity.
Harnessing the potential of ammonia and overcoming the technical challenges of the fuel has brought together the partners in the Nordic Green Ammonia Powered Ships project, with the aim of having an ammonia-powered ammonia carrier in operation in the region.
In the first phase of the NoGAPS project the partners developed a proof of concept on overcoming the barriers to adoption of the fuel. The second phase, which is still ongoing, began with the development of a vessel design, with the goal of having a vessel in operation. The long-term aim is to develop an infrastructure, operational, and business ecosystem for ammonia powered shipping.
DNV regional manager north Europe Tuva Flagstad-Andersen said regional initiatives that pioneer and demonstrate the potential of new fuels and technologies can help lead the way to wider adoption while building local expertise and opportunities.
“Ammonia is a promising alternative fuel option – one that we have been working to enable for several years now, including developing the Gas Fuelled Ammonia notation,” she said.
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping chief technology officer onboard vessel solutions Claus Winter Graugaard said collaborative novel design development and safety case integration are critical for the necessary maturation of the ammonia fuel pathway
“NoGAPS provides a leading example of this and demonstrates the benefit of starting with ammonia as a fuel in the gas carrier segment,” he said.
For the approval in principle, DNV has reviewed the design of the vessel for compliance with the DNV rules for Gas Carriers Pt.5 Ch.7 and the IGC code, with a particular focus on the arrangement and systems onboard related to the cargo and fuel installation.
NoGAPS is made possible by Nordic Innovation Fund funding and in-kind support from consortium partners, including BW Epic Kosan, DNV, Global Maritime Forum, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, MAN Energy Solutions, Wärtsilä, and Yara. Danish Maritime Authority is the flag representative and Breeze Ship Design is the ship designer. NoGAPS is one of five projects awarded grants by Nordic Innovation as part of the Nordic Innovation Mobility Mission with the aim of decarbonising Nordic ports, and the transport of people and goods – on and between sea and land.
