Successful ammonia transfers propel Pilbara’s bunkering hub ambitions

Pilbara Ports in Australia has been identified as having significant potential to become key ammonia bunkering hub, as highlighted by a Global Maritime Forum study. In a strategic move to realise this potential, a tripartite collaboration has been formed between the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), Pilbara Ports, and Yara Clean Ammonia (YCA). The initiative aims to realise Pilbara’s potential as a low-greenhouse gas (GHG) emission ammonia bunkering hub. To that end, construction has begun at Yara Pilbara’s facility to enable renewable ammonia production by 2025.

Ammonia is emerging as a promising maritime fuel for the decarbonisation of shipping due to its carbon-neutral nature, high energy density, and readiness for combustion in engines or fuel cells. However, ammonia’s use is challenging due to its toxicity and the need for the development of adequate bunkering infrastructure, which will require additional safety measures.

On 14 September 2024, the potential of this venture was demonstrated through successful ship-to-ship ammonia transfers at anchorages within the Port of Dampier. The transfers involved the Green Pioneer, a 35,000 cubic metres (cbm) ammonia carrier owned by MOL, and the Navigator Global, a 22,500 cbm ammonia carrier owned by Navigator Gas. Yara Clean Ammonia provided the ammonia for these operations.

The first transfer saw 4,000 cbm (approximately 2,700 tonnes) of ammonia moved from the Green Pioneer to the Navigator Global, with the same cargo subsequently transferred back to the Green Pioneer. Each operation took around six hours, with the initial transfer completing at 0830 hours.

GCMD said that in the absence of ammonia bunkering vessels and ammonia-fuelled ships at this stage, ship-to-ship transfers at anchorage offer the closest proxy to bunkering operations when it replicates the essential steps involved. The trial began with a transfer at the Port of Dampier as a proxy to breakbulk, leveraging the port’s experience with ammonia export. The second transfer demonstrated the potential of bunkering operations, extendable also to other ports nearby, where such future operations for bulk carriers are expected to take place. To mimic future ammonia bunkering scenarios, the Pilbara trials deployed a handysize and a midsize gas carrier with capacities that are similar to that expected of ammonia bunker vessels.

The consortium introduced additional safety measures including the use of emergency release couplings, emergency shutdown devices and other safety equipment, and the implementation of hot-gas and nitrogen purging procedures after ammonia transfer.

Consortium representatives, Photo by GCMD

“Beyond addressing the technical and operational challenges, executing this pilot required us to navigate complex commercial landscapes, including securing vessels and managing cargo transfer, as well as uncertainties and spur-of-the-moment hiccups that arise during operations,” Professor Lynn Loo, CEO, GCMD said.

“This pilot marks a crucial step towards readying the ecosystem for using ammonia as a marine fuel, paving the way for eventual bunkering when ammonia-fuelled vessels become available.”

“The Pilbara is an obvious beachhead for investment in green fuels. It has all the ingredients for success: a vast industrial base, stable demand, ample access to solar and wind energy, and world-leading export infrastructure. The scale of maritime operations in the Pilbara, together with its critical role in supplying half the world’s iron ore, make it the centrepiece of efforts to decarbonise the world’s bulk shipping fleet,” Samuel McSkimming, CEO, Pilbara Ports, said.

“Ammonia is already produced, stored and exported in industrial quantities from the Port of Dampier. The GCMD/Yara Clean Ammonia trial leveraged that experience to incrementally advance the potential of ammonia as a green marine fuel, to the benefit of others across the global maritime sector.”

“The successful ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia is a critical learning step forward in enabling ammonia bunkering operations in a port environment as global shipping moves to effective use of clean ammonia as a fuel,” Murali Srinivasan, SVP Commercial, Yara Clean Ammonia, said.

Source: WorldCargo News