Approval in Principle (AIP) was given by Korean Register (KR) for the design of a new ammonia-fuel ready vessel on 5 September, during Gastech 2022. The Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), jointly developed by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and KR, will be capable of using ammonia as a fuel as well as carrying it as bulk cargo.
Ammonia is a stable, cost-effective and clean energy source but can cause stress corrosion cracking in carbon manganese steel or nickel steel. To minimize these risks, management of the tensile stress and corrosive environment of the steel is essential. The SHI design maintains the actual yield stress of the ammonia tank steel below KR’s Rule requirements and is able to maintain a temperature close to boiling point.
”Whilst the shipping industry has significant experience of carrying ammonia as a bulk cargo, using it as a fuel brings new challenges and fuel systems must be designed, manufactured, operated and maintained in a way which ensures the safety of the ship crews, port staff and fuel suppliers. KR will continue to co-operate with SHI to develop further green technologies and become a leader in this field.”
..said Head of KR’s Plan Approval Center.
Furthermore, Young-kyu Ahn, Head of SHI’s Shipbuilding Sales Engineering Team said:
Ammonia fuel propulsion vessels are one of the best ways of meeting the IMO’s carbon neutral targets, and we plan to commercialize them with differentiated technology. Moreover, our Research Institute is spurring the development of green technologies such as carbon reduction and hydrogen transport technology.
KR is further supporting the development of ammonia-related technologies by developing its guidance for ammonia-fueled ships, and its participation in the Green Ammonia Marine Transport and Bunkering Consortium. According to the 2050 Carbon Roadmap report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), ammonia is expected to account for 45% of ship fuel demand in 2050.
