Ammonia - Issue #1

A word from the editor…

The shipping world is at a crossroads as it approaches its net zero target of 2050 and is in need of an alternative to HFO. In the first of a series of Special Reports, we look at ammonia. Yes, that famously toxic substance. Surprisingly, it’s fast becoming one of the hottest candidates to replace fossil fuels at sea.

Why? Well, it’s carbon-free when burned, doesn’t belch sulphur oxides or soot into the air, and — if made from renewables — could slash greenhouse gases by up to 90%. That’s enough to make the International Maritime Organization (IMO) swoon.

But there’s a catch. Several, actually. Ammonia, as said, is toxic. As in, really toxic. It’s also corrosive, and unlike many fuels, it doesn’t like to catch fire — which is great for safety, but weirdly complicated for engines. So, we spoke to shipping’s brightest minds who are scrambling to rewrite safety rules, redesign fuel systems, and train crews not to, you know, poison themselves.

Big names like ABS, Lloyd’s Register and DNV are drafting the new playbook. And engine makers like WinGD are building ammonia-ready monsters — the kind that don’t need exhaust scrubbers to meet the IMO’s strict pollution limits. Meanwhile, hardware firms like HEROSE are busy inventing valves and pumps that won’t melt, leak, or explode when exposed to this grumpy little molecule.

Oddly enough, we already have over 250 ammonia terminals scattered around the globe (thank you, fertilizer industry), which gives it a leg up on rivals like hydrogen. Ships are being ordered with “ammonia-ready” stamped on them, and ports are figuring out how to safely pump this noxious stuff into bunkers.

Of course, not everyone’s sold. Critics worry about toxicity and emissions like nitrous oxide — no, not the laughing gas. But despite its flaws, ammonia is tough to ignore. It’s carbon-free, it’s scalable, and it’s already getting real-world traction.

So no, it’s not perfect. But if the world’s going to keep running its global trade, it’s reliant on shipping. And with stringent rules on emissions coming thick and fast, HFO simply doesn’t cut it anymore. An already widely available substance might be the solution needed.

- David Stevenson, Editor, The Motorship
dstevenson@mercatormedia.com