LR grants AiP for Chinese ammonia-fuelled Newcastlemax bulker
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC) Approval in Principle (AiP) for a 210,000dwt Newcastlemax bulk carrier design fuelled by ammonia. The carbon-zero fuel (NH3) is considered by many as a possible maritime fuel of the future, partly because large volumes of the chemical are widely traded and shipped by sea.
LR has undertaken a risk analysis of the bulk carrier’s design, bearing in mind that ammonia is a potentially harmful chemical. However, it is viewed by many as a carbon-free marine fuel of the future and engine designers are already working on ammonia-powered internal combustion engine designs.
The shipbuilder’s deputy chief designer, Guan Yinghua, commented: “DSIC has deep research expertise in low and zero-carbon vessel innovation, cooperating with LR classification on green ship research and development.
“In 2019, LR issued the concept design AiP to DSIC for the ammonia-powered ‘C-Future’ 23,000-TEU ultra large container ship,” he said. “Now we have an AiP for a 210,000dwt bulk carrier, capable of being powered by ammonia, a leading zero-carbon shipping fuel. It’s further evidence of DSIC working together with its customers for a zero-carbon future.”
