The NoGAPS project has now been extended to produce a detailed ship design for the world’s first ammonia-powered ship by 2023.
The Nordic Green Ammonia Powered Ship (NoGAPS) project was initially funded for one year under the Nordic Innovation Mobility Mission: Sea Meets Land in 2020.
The project carried out a concept study exploring the potential to initiate the transition to a long-term decarbonized shipping sector through the deployment of an ammonia-powered ammonia carrier. The study identified key options for de-risking and deploying such a ship.
Building on the findings and momentum from the initial project, Nordic Innovation has now decided to co-fund NoGAPS for an additional 24 months.
During this period, the project will produce a detailed ship design for an ammonia-powered ammonia carrier, which will lay the foundation for a shipyard tender and the construction of the vessel.
The work will address challenges in vessel design identified in the initial NoGAPS project, including:
- Safety (materials and configuration for fuel storage and engine room, crew placement, containment systems, etc);
- Optimal tank sizing and placement;
- Energy efficiency.
The medium-term objective (2024/2025) of the project is to have the M/S NoGAPS in operation in the region. The long-term (2025-) impact objective of the project is to establish the infrastructure, operational and business models for ammonia-powered shipping in the region.
As demonstrated in the initial NoGAPS project, ammonia carriers offer a significant opportunity to introduce ammonia-powered shipping early, given their advantages with respect to handling and safety routines and bunkering.
Establishing a design for these carriers is the crucial next step to bridge the existing concept to operations in the Nordic region. As the first ammonia engines are expected to be ready in 2024, the timing is ideal for developing this design in 2021-2022
said Nordic Innovation.
Recently, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) awarded its ammonia bunkering safety study to a DNV-led consortium, including partnership with Surbana Jurong and the Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA).
The intent of this study is to define a robust set of safety guidelines and operational envelopes that will establish the basis of a regulatory sandbox for trials at two local bunkering sites.
