Shenghang Yongle, the first liquid ammonia bunkering ship in the world, transferred 1000 metric tons of green ammonia to a bulk carrier, marking the first ship-to-ship bunkering of the marine fuel at the Zhoushan Port’s anchorage in China.
This was a major milestone not only for Chinese shipping but for the global maritime sector as well, as policies to decarbonise shipping become more stringent to curb pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that result from the use of traditional fuels powering ocean-going vessels.
The announcement comes at a time when IMO’s push towards meeting net-zero emission goals for shipping is no longer a policy to be achieved in the distant future, but rather a necessity, as new green ship technology is being rolled out rapidly and ships are being equipped with equipment to reduce their emissions.
After the bunkering, the bulker is scheduled to sail across the Pacific towards Australia. Li Jingguang, chairman of CEEC Hydrogen Energy Co Ltd, said that the operation was the world’s first integration of the complete supply chain for green ammonia, right from production to storage, transport, bunkering and its use.
It highlights that China’s ammonia sector is transitioning from a small-scale business to one that is commercialised at a large scale and normalised.
CEEC’s ‘Qingqing No. 1’ Songyuan Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park provided the green ammonia used in the bunkering. The park produces not only green ammonia, but also green hydrogen and methanol, and is one of the most ambitious initiatives undertaken in this direction in China, with the facility located in the country’s northeastern Jilin province.
According to experts from the industry, green ammonia is one of the most commercially viable marine fuels out there, which can make the transition to zero-emissions shipping faster. It can also be produced in massive quantities using renewable energy sources like wind, water, solar, and air.
Green ammonia is energy-dense, is easy and quick to liquefy and transport, and can be integrated into existing storage and transport networks.
The first bunkering of green ammonia proves that China has the capabilities to meet or even surpass the global benchmarks to forge a cross-country green energy supply chain, Li added.
China would offer green ammonia to ships at competitive prices and support the global maritime industry in cutting its emissions. Beijing also operates ammonia storage facilities at the Panjin Port and is working to establish a logistics network to deliver the sustainable fuel.
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Disclaimer :
The information on this website is for general purposes only. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, we make no warranties of any kind regarding completeness, reliability, or suitability. Any reliance you place on such information is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of this website.
