DNV certifies Fortescue’s dual-fuelled ammonia-powered vessel

Classification society DNV has presented Australian green technology and metals firm Fortescue with class and statutory certificates for its dual-fuelled ammonia-powered vessel.

PHOTO: Fortescue's Green Pioneer during its bunker operation in Singapore last month. MPA

Fortescue's vessel, the Green Pioneer, received the certificates last week.

These certificates signal the culmination of a project that the duo started in 2021. Fortescue and DNV collaborated to work on the feasibility study and parameters to grant fuel-ready (ammonia) notation for the Green Power’s conversion. 

"DNV’s Gas Fuelled Ammonia notation, an industry first, set out the requirements for the ship’s fuel system, fuel bunkering connection and piping through to the fuel consumers," DNV stated.

Last month, Fortescue successfully used ammonia as bunker fuel to power the Green Pioneer in the Port of Singapore as part of a seven-day trial. The vessel was bunkered with 3 mt of liquid ammonia, supplied by Vopak using its existing infrastructure on Jurong Island. 

There are four engines on the Green Pioneer, two of which are retrofitted dual-fuel engines that can run on both ammonia and conventional fuels. Diesel was used as a pilot fuel for the bunker operation, though the consortium has not revealed the ammonia-to-diesel ratio. The vessel will now be bunkered with another 3 mt of liquid ammonia for further tests over the next few weeks.

By Manjula Nair

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