LR approves ammonia dual-fuel system for Trafigura gas carriers
The design of the ammonia-fuelled gas carrier has been approved
(Source: Lloyd's Register)
Lloyd’s Register has approved the design and safety features of an ammonia dual-fuel system for four Trafigura medium gas carriers (MGCs) ordered last year at HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD). The 45,000m3 vessels, designed to carry LPG and ammonia, will have WinGD ammonia dual-fuel engines and Alfa Laval’s Ammonia Release Mitigation Systems.
Singapore-based trading company, Trafigura, is one of the first ship operators to adopt this technology for MGCs. The vessels will be built at HMD’s Ulsan shipyard, with deliveries expected during 2028.
The classification society’s Global Gas Segment Director, Panos Mitrou, said: “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in this collaborative project. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s energy transition efforts by offering exceptional technical expertise, rigorous safety evaluations, and regulatory leadership. As a trusted maritime services partner, we continue to pioneer the pathway enabling the adoption of alternative fuels and innovative technologies that shape the future of decarbonised shipping.”
Andrea Olivi, Trafigura’s global head of shipping, commented: “EU regulations have been crucial in allowing us to execute this order. If we are to decarbonise freight and increase the demand for zero-carbon fuels across the world, we need the IMO to implement regulations including EU ETS and Fuel EU maritime on a global scale. The IMO needs to introduce a simple and transparent policy framework including, in our view, a global fuel standard combined with a straightforward levy applied equally across the board.”
A joint development project studying the performance of ammonia as a marine fuel was launched in December 2024 and will continue until the new vessels are delivered. Participants in the project are LR, Trafigura Maritime Logistics, HD Hyundai Mipo, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Engine & Machinery Division, WinGD Ltd, Liquid Gas Equipment Limited (Babcock LGE), Alfa Laval Corporate AB, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.
