UK sets out guidance for safe use of ammonia as a bunker fuel
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has set out new guidance for ship design approval and future crew training, in line with the IMO’s interim guidance on the safe use of ammonia as a bunker fuel.
IMAGE: Fortescue's ammonia-fuelled vessel, Green Pioneer, in London. Fortescue
The document primarily outlines how shipowners can gain approval for ammonia-fuelled operations using the International Maritime Organization’s Alternative Design Arrangement (ADA) process under the IGF Code.
The ADA framework allows shipowners to demonstrate that an unconventional fuel system, such as ammonia, can meet safety standards equivalent to conventional designs.
Submissions must identify key hazards, propose mitigation strategies and undergo review by the MCA.
The guidance also highlights the need for specialised crew training to safely handle alternative fuels onboard.
The MCA is working with training providers to launch a methanol-specific course in 2025, with ammonia training expected to follow later that year as part of the UK’s cadet programme. A broader crew training framework is expected to be integrated into the IGF Code by 2030, the MCA said.
For vessels under 500 gross tonnes that fall outside the IGF Code, the MCA suggests adapting the same risk-based methodology tailored for each vessel’s design and operational needs.
This guidance comes as momentum around ammonia as a low-emission marine fuel continues to build.
For instance, Australian mining company Fortescue has been a vocal advocate, calling for faster investment in ammonia-capable vessels.
“The days of ships operating on dirty bunker fuel, which is responsible for three per cent of global carbon emissions, are numbered. We continue to implore shipping regulators to show the character and leadership that is necessary to ensure this happens sooner rather than later,” Dino Otranto, chief executive of Fortescue Metals recently said.
Fortescue recently showcased its ammonia-powered tugboat in the UK and has also chartered an ammonia-capable vessel from CMB.Tech’s Bocimar division.
According to DNV, there are currently three ammonia-capable vessels in operation, with 33 more expected to enter service by 2029.
By Konica Bhatt
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