The world’s first accreditation for “Machinery Room Safety for Ammonia” (MRS) will be granted by ClassNK for the ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC) currently being developed by a consortium that includes Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY). MRS is Class notation demonstrating a ship is equipped with excellent ammonia safety measures for the machinery room. MRS also confirms the vessel meets the highest safety measures under the guidelines for ammonia-fueled ships.
The consortium to which NYK and NSY belong is aiming for AFMGC delivery by the end of November 2026. The vessel development is under the Green Innovation Fund Project by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). One of the biggest challenges in the ship’s development is to overcome toxicity in the machinery room. It is essential to have measures to keep the crew safe, such as a design to avoid ammonia leakage from piping and tanks. To overcome toxicity, the consortium has conducted a risk assessment reviewed by ClassNK, risk assessments and safety measures from a user’s point of view led by NYK’s engineers, and a study of the ship’s specifications to realize the world’s highest level of safety.
The minimum design requirements for using ammonia safely on board are regulated in the ammonia-fueled ship guidelines issued by ClassNK. To receive an MRS notation, it is necessary to satisfy the optional functional requirement to minimize personal exposure to leaking ammonia in the machinery room. This notation shall be granted only to ships that meet the functional requirement and secure the highest level of safety.
The consortium continues vessel development, the creation of operation manuals for actual operations, etc., aiming for delivery by November 2026. Moreover, the aim to further improve safety for ammonia-fueled ships through technical know-how and achievements, including MRS accreditation, with the collaboration of consortium members.