World’s First Ammonia-Powered Ship: by Green Ships and Bourbon Horizon
Here’s an article posted in Offshore Energy about the world’s first ammonia-powered ship.
According to the article,
- New ship design capable of supplying hydrogen using green ammonia
- Integrated into a zero-emissions ePSV by Green Ships and Bourbon Horizon
- 82m vessel with ammonia-to-power solution as primary power source
- Green ammonia identified as potential decarbonization solution for global shipping
The innovative vessel design by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA), developed under its subsidiary LDPL, is termed the “Floating Renewable Energy Solution for Hydrogen vessel” (FRESH). This ship represents a cutting-edge approach to renewable energy storage and distribution, particularly focusing on hydrogen and green ammonia. Here are detailed aspects of its design, construction, and operational processes:
1. Design and Construction
- Dual Fuel Capability: The FRESH vessel is designed to operate using both hydrogen and ammonia as fuel sources. This dual capability allows for flexible operations depending on availability and demand of the fuels.
- Modular Design: To accommodate different technology solutions and facilitate upgrades, the vessel is constructed using a modular approach. This design allows for components, such as fuel cells or storage tanks, to be upgraded as technology evolves without requiring significant hull modifications.
- Advanced Materials: The ship employs advanced materials that are resistant to the corrosive nature of ammonia and the cryogenic conditions required for hydrogen storage. These materials ensure longevity and safety.
2. Operational Processes
- Hydrogen Storage and Conversion: Hydrogen is stored in liquid form, requiring cryogenic storage tanks capable of maintaining temperatures around -253°C. The hydrogen can be converted back to electricity onboard through fuel cells or used to power a combustion engine.
- Ammonia Handling: Ammonia, used as a carrier for hydrogen, is easier to store and transport because it remains liquid at -33°C under atmospheric pressure. Specialized tanks and handling systems are designed to manage these conditions safely.
- Energy Generation and Supply: The vessel can also act as a mobile power plant, generating electricity from stored hydrogen or ammonia and supplying it to shore facilities or other ships.
3. Unique Features
- Renewable Energy Integration: The vessel is designed to harness renewable energy (solar and wind) directly. This energy can be used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis onboard, minimizing the carbon footprint associated with hydrogen production.
- Safety Innovations: Given the absence of established classification rules for such novel vessels, LDA has worked with the Korean Register to develop new safety and operational guidelines that align with marine industry practices.
4. Specific Data Points and Informative Facts
- Approval and Standards: On November 1, 2022, the Korean Register granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to LDPL, affirming the vessel’s design’s safety and technical feasibility.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): An MoU was signed with the Korean Register on September 6, 2022, outlining a collaboration framework for the vessel’s development, focusing on compliance and industrialization by 2025.
Interestingly, we have other posts related to this content:
Our specialty focus areas include 
“Shipping with Green Hydrogen: Ammonia Cracking Technology by Pherousa” – This article talks about Pherousa’s deal with pure hydrogen and their proposed solution to the challenges of storing and using hydrogen on deep-sea shipping with ammonia cracker.
