Ammonia, hydrogen, LNG all part of Sembcorp and Singapore transition strategy
Ammonia bunkering vessels are being designed to meet what developers see as the future demand for the fuel in shipping. A partnership of companies has been working on a design for a bunker vessel, and paid US-based class society ABS now to check the design and give it an Approval in Principle to enable work to move to the next stage.
The collaboration is between engineering firm Sembcorp Marine (Singapore) naval architects LMG Marine (Norway) along with MOL and Itochu Corporation (Japan)
In a short press statement the group stated that the vessel, if realised, will be the first of its kind bunker vessel. “It will also augment Singapore’s marine decarbonisation efforts with resultant positive impact on the global maritime industry.”
Sembcorp is currently building a 12,000 m³ LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) bunkering vessel for Mitsui O.S.K. Once completed, this vessel will be the largest LNG bunkering vessel built in Singapore.
LNG, while still being a hydrocarbon emitting CO2 when used in ships engines is seen by its advocates as a suitable transition fuel for shipping. Sembcorp is also working on potential hydrogen fuel solutions.
In April 2021, Sembcorp Marine entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Shell and Penguin International to jointly develop hydrogen as a marine fuel, another first for Singapore.
In the press statement Sembcorp Marine President and CEO, Mr Wong Weng Sun, said: “Sembcorp Marine is delighted to undertake another collaborative effort that has the potential to revolutionise shipping and transportation. This collaboration clearly underpins the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation’s ongoing pursuit to define the safety and operation envelopes to enable ammonia pilot demonstrations in Singapore.”
“We are cognizant that the push to accelerate decarbonisation must be supported by a portfolio of solutions. We are leveraging our proven expertise and differentiated capabilities in the design and fabrication of offshore structures and vessels to support the offshore, marine and energy industries’ mission critical search for viable solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. This joint project is also in line with Sembcorp Marine’s Sustainability Vision to reduce our carbon footprint.”
