Korean Register (KR), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), KSS Line, and the Liberian Registry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the safety guidelines for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.
As the demand for ammonia-fueled vessels rises, this partnership aims to establish “robust safety standards for STS ammonia bunkering” for supplying fuel to ammonia-fueled vessels.
The safe bunkering of alternative fuels, like ammonia, requires rigorous risk assessment and the establishment of controlled zones. While standards for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol bunkering have already been defined through various international industry standards, ammonia currently lacks relevant guidelines, highlighting the urgent need for the partnership’s research.
To address this industry need, the five organizations involved will work together to develop standardized safety procedures that will set international benchmarks for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering.
As part of the initiative, HD KSOE will conduct risk assessments in accordance with international industry standards.
Meanwhile, HD HHI and KSS Line will use their knowledge of alternative fuel vessels and ammonia carriers to assess controlled zones and safety protocols for ammonia STS bunkering.
Moreover, KR will review and verify the compliance of these safety procedures, ultimately issuing an Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate.
Additionally, the Liberian Registry, responsible for overseeing the world’s largest registered fleet, will conduct a further review to validate the safety procedures.
Kim Yeontae, Executive Vice President of KR’s technical division, emphasized the significance of the collaborative effort to establish safety standards, particularly in light of the anticipated increase in ammonia bunkering demand driven by the growing construction of ammonia-fueled vessels. He expressed KR’s commitment to advancing ammonia fuel technology and supporting the industry’s decarbonization efforts through this partnership.