The world’s first ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia using vessels at anchorage in a working port environment has been completed. The companies involved feel that the transfer is a significant step towards realising ammonia as a shipping fuel and enable bunkering worldwide.
Yara contributed with their experience and knowledge on safe handling of ammonia, nominated an ammonia vessel from their time charter fleet, and the ammonia used in the transfers.
‘This demonstrates that ammonia transfer can be done with the highest safety standards and efficiency in a working port environment,’ says Murali Srinivasan, SVP Commercial Yara Clean Ammonia. ‘The transfer is a major milestone to decarbonise shipping using low-emission ammonia as fuel.’
Also read: Yara and NCL plan first ammonia-powered container ship
Pilbara as a bunkering hub
The operation is a result of the collaborative relationship between Yara Clean Ammonia, Pilbara Ports Authority and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD). It was conducted in Port Dampier in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, as part of the work to enhance the Pilbara’s potential as a bunkering hub to fuel ships with low-emission ammonia.
Low-emission ammonia is produced with renewable energy and electrolysis of water or with carbon capture and storage. Ammonia does not emit CO2 when burned.
Partnership
The Pilbara Ports Authority and Yara Clean Ammonia have been working together for more than two years investigating the potential demand for ammonia as a fuel, required bunker infrastructure, safety guidelines and the required regulatory framework.
To develop the transfer, this partnership was expanded with GCMD, who successfully attracted additional partners to help ensure a safe and efficient execution of the transfer operation. Port Dampier has ongoing experience with ammonia cargoes with Yara Pilbara’s nearby operations shipping an incident free 11.8 million tonnes to date.
Also read: How ports can supply green methanol and ammonia by 2030
Green Pioneer and Navigator Global
The two ship-to-ship transfers were undertaken between the Green Pioneer, a 35,000-m3 ammonia carrier (owner MOL), and the Navigator Global, a 22,500-m3 ammonia carrier (owner Navigator Gas). The trial involved a dual transfer of 4000 m3 (approximately 2715 tonnes) of ammonia, first from the Green Pioneer to the Navigator Global, and then back to the Green Pioneer.
Srinivasan: ‘We are very proud to be part of this tripartite project and active collaboration and contributions to the positive outcome of the trials. We see clean ammonia as the low to zero-emission fuel to decarbonise the shipping industry and meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets. […] The successful ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia was a critical learning step in enabling ammonia bunkering operations in a port environment as global shipping moves to effective use of ammonia as a fuel.’
Also read: HGK develops inland tanker for shipping ammonia and LCO2
Developing low carbon ammonia products
Yara Pilbara’s COO Laurent Trost says the trials were encouraging as the Pilbara operations moves forward with key decarbonisation measures: ‘We currently have the Project Yuri renewable hydrogen demonstration plant under construction on our existing lease, which will begin injecting green molecules into our ammonia production process next year, and we are also investigating carbon capture and storage, which would swiftly and significantly cut carbon output from our operations.’
Trost adds: ‘These measures, along with government planning for enablement of green electricity transmission, would allow us to develop low carbon ammonia products in the Pilbara for application in the shipping industry and other clean fuels, as well as the building block for decarbonised ammonium nitrate and fertiliser products.’
Picture (top): The Green Pioneer and the Navigator Global with tugboats (by Yara).
