Towards Zero-Carbon Shipping with Ammonia
Paving the way for Ammonia-powered vessels
Ammonia has been identified as one of the leading potential zero emission fuels as it can be produced from renewable electricity and is already produced in large quantities in the Nordic countries. However, ammonia-powered vessels present a number of challenges from the technical, safety, fuel supply and commercial viability fronts – all of which must be overcome before the promise of ships running safely on green ammonia can become a reality.
The Nordic Green Ammonia Powered Ships (NoGAPS) project aims to pave the way for ammonia-powered vessels first in the Nordic region, and globally.
A multi-year, multi-partner project
NoGAPS receives funding from the Nordic Innovation Fund and in-kind support from consortium partners, including BW Epic Kosan, DNV, Global Maritime Forum, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, MAN Energy Solutions, Wärtsilä and Yara.
Over 2020-2021, partners worked together to develop a proof of concept on how barriers to the adoption of ammonia as a zero emission maritime fuel can be overcome. The study focused on operational safety and efficiency; looked at sustainable and steady fuel supply chains, as well as commercial viability. The Report can be downloaded here. With a proof of concept developed, the project moved on to produce a detailed ship design of an ammonia-powered ammonia carrier – the M/S NoGAPS – which will form the foundation for a shipyard tender and the construction of the vessel. In June 2023, Classification society DNV awarded NoGAPS an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design.
NoGAPS2: Commercialisation Report
In August 2023, the NoGAPS team released a study on possible pathways to commercialise the M/S NoGAPS. Download the study here and read the press release here.
The Report lays out an ambitious but feasible set of actions that companies and policymakers can take to make M/V NoGAPS cost-competitive before 2030 with the right combination of ship finance, appropriate chartering agreements, and public sector de-risking measures.
BW Epic Kosan has been a strong supporter of the NoGAPS project since it began in 2020. Participating in the NoGAPS project has given us greater business and technical insights into the safe management of ammonia. By understanding how to manage ammonia propulsion and how commercial viability can be achieved, we are well-positioned to manage new forms of alternative propulsion as the world transitions to a lower-carbon future.
BW Epic Kosan looks forward to translating the project’s ambitions from paper into steel.
Pioneering Ammonia Propulsion
The design addressed challenges identified in the initial NoGAPS project, including safety during operations, optimal tank sizing and placement, and energy efficiency. Moving forward, the medium-term objective (2024/2025) of the project is to have the M/S NoGAPS in operation in the Nordic region. In the long term, (2025 and beyond), the project aims to establish the infrastructure, operational and business models for ammonia-powered shipping in the region, and thereafter, globally. Ultimately, the project aims to bring the industry a big step forward in our journey towards zero-carbon shipping.
Watch the explainer video which provides a high-level overview of the M/V NoGAPS.
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