On December 24,China shipping & Sinopec suppliers Co.,Ltd (China shipping & Sinopec suppliers) completed the bunkering of the first 5500HP ammonia-powered tugboat “Cosco Tug 1” with marine ammonia fuel at the terminal of Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian), which marked the first bunkering of marine ammonia fuel at Dalian, and another major breakthrough in the application of alternative energy for ships.
Ammonia fuel, as a marine alternative fuel, is considered to be an effective storage and transportation carrier for hydrogen energy, and its combustion products are mainly nitrogen and water, which do not produce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and are also known as “zero-carbon” clean energy, which is beneficial to promotes the green and low-carbon development of the shipping industry.
Considering the toxicity and other risks of liquid ammonia, China shipping & Sinopec suppliers carried out extensive pre-operation, safety checking and testing in conjunction with the difficulties in regulating the pressure of liquid and gas phases of liquid ammonia. The process was carried out in a vehicle-to-vessel bunkering mode, and the company communicated with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Dalian) for many times on the bunkering procedures, emergency responses, and bunkering operations of ammonia fuel.
The bunkering workers were trained and a synthetic drill was conducted to simulate liquid ammonia leakage, fire and explosion, and first aid for personnel during the bunkering process. Ultimately, China’s first ammonia fuel bunkering for a new ship was completed safely and smoothly.
The successful real-ship bunkering of the ammonia-powered tugboat with ammonia fuel tested the tightness and effectiveness of China shipping & Sinopec suppliers’ bunkering equipment system. It verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the “Ammonia-Powered Tugboat Ammonia Fuel Bunkering Procedure.” This process has accumulated relevant knowledge and experience for using ammonia fuel in large ships and provided promotable experience for the shipping industry in applying marine alternative clean fuels.