Wärtsilä introduces AFSS for NH3 fuelled vessels

The Wärtsilä AFSS is an innovative and reliable system that enables the use of ammonia as a marine fuel.

The announcement follows the news that the first NH3 fuel supply systems will be installed on two new gas carrier being built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) in South Korea. The pair of medium-sized gas carrier newbuilds are being built to Exmar LPG’s account, and will be the first oceangoing vessels to be propelled by dual-fuel engines capable of operating with ammonia.

Ammonia as fuel

In line with shipping’s transition to decarbonised fuels, ammonia is widely seen as one of the most promising new fuel candidates. It offers a huge reduction in CO2 emissions, almost zero sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions, and similar reductions in nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions.

“At Wärtsilä Gas Solutions we have more than 50 years’ experience in handling ammonia onboard ships. This experience, along with our deep understanding and development of high efficiency cargo handling systems in general, has led to the introduction of this system, which we see as a key enabler for decarbonised operations. The AFSS is designed to be robust and reliable, under even the most challenging sea conditions,” said Stein Thoresen, Head of Sales Marine, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

AFSS system functionality

The AFSS is suitable for both newbuilds and as a retrofit for existing vessels. It can be installed as an integrated cargo handling and fuel supply system on ships carrying liquified gas especially those able to trade ammonia as cargo, such as VLGCs and MGCs. It can also be installed as a self-standing fuel supply system on IGF-coded vessels with either low or high-pressure systems, or a combination of both.

A system consisting of pumps and heat exchangers is used to supply the engine with a stable and reliable fuel flow, at the correct pressure and temperature. The AFSS systems are equipped with proven components, including the necessary purge gas treatment system. Due to the need for high cleanness of the fuel, proper filtering is installed upstream and is embedded in the system.