Ammonia bunkering vessel awarded AiP by DNV

Singapore-based engineering consultancy, Seatech Solutions International, and Australia’s Oceania Marine Energy, a clean energy developer. have been awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) by DNV for the design of a 10,000-m³ ammonia bunkering vessel.

The 130m-long vessel design has been developed specifically to supply low-carbon ammonia to dual-fuelled bulk carriers exporting iron ore from mines in the Pilbara region at the Port of Dampier. The ship will be able to supply 9,000m³ of fuel which, DNV said, is enough for two round-trips between the Australian port and North Asia.

Australia’s dry bulk exporters are keen to adopt low- and zero-carbon shipping arrangements and the first  successful completion of a ship-to-ship pilot bunkering transfer was carried out last September. Ammonia as a marine fuel, however, poses challenges – it is both toxic and corrosive and requires stringent handling and safety protocols.

Oceania’s managing director, Nick Bentley, said: “The completion of this MOU and Approval in Principle award by DNV for our 10,000m³ clean ammonia bunker vessel marks a major milestone in developing the supply and bunker operation foundations for the low-carbon shipping Pilbara–Asia green corridor. This initiative reinforces Oceania’s commitment to deliver one million tonnes of clean marine fuel by 2030 and positions Dampier in Western Australia as a future leader.”

SeaTech Solutions vice president of Technology, Prabjot Singh Chopra, commented: “This Approval in Principle marks a key milestone, not just for the vessel, but for the broader ecosystem that must be in place to support ammonia bunkering. With Dampier emerging as a green marine fuel hub, and with SeaTech (Australia) actively engaged in supporting decarbonisation initiatives aligned with Australia’s net-zero ambitions, we bring a strong track record and deep expertise to deliver practical, scalable solutions that enable the decarbonisation of global shipping.”