Yara hails milestone in ammonia bunkering

PORT DAMPIER , September 16, 2024 – Yara International on Monday hailed the world’s first ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia between anchored vessels at a working port – a milestone for safe ammonia bunkering.

The global crop nutrition giant contributed to the STS milestone with its experience and knowledge on safe handling of ammonia, nominated an ammonia vessel from its Time Charter fleet and provided the ammonia used in the transfers.

The operation, conducted at Western Australia’s Port Dampier, resulted from a collaboration between Yara Clean Ammonia, Pilbara Ports Authority and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation.

“This demonstrates that ammonia transfer can be done with the highest safety standards and efficiency in a working port environment,” said Murali Srinivasan, senior vice-president of commercial at Yara Clean Ammonia.

“The transfer is a major milestone to decarbonise shipping using low-emission ammonia as fuel.”

Clean ammonia has emerged in recent years as a competitive green shipping fuel, at a time when companies’ decarbonisation goals and pressure from the IMO have created demand for lower-emissions alternatives.

To deliver low-carbon ammonia, green hydrogen is stored in ammonia through a process that combines hydrogen gas with nitrogen gas to make the compound.

Photo courtesy of Yara International.

Read our latest insights on: