Interest in ammonia engines ‘overwhelming’, says MAN

The 200,000dwt carrier is a joint venture between K Line, NS United and Itochu Corporation and the engine is being built in Japan by Mitsui E&S.

“We are on the right track in relation to our dual-fuel ammonia concept where we have gained a great understanding of ammonia’s unique characteristics as a marine fuel via our two-stroke engine testing, which we started in early June 2023,” said Brian Østergaard Sørensen, vice president and head of research & development, two-stroke at MAN Energy Solutions.

“We are confident of how to handle it safely and it is very satisfying to see our hard work beginning to pay off.”

Bjarne Foldager, country manager, Denmark, MAN Energy Solutions, said that the interest in the ammonia-fuelled engine had been ‘overwhelming’ but that regulation was needed to encourage the use of alternative fuels in the shipping industry.

“Regulatory clarity from the EU and IMO is improving but now we need the right market-based tools to be introduced in order to bring the industry towards carbon neutrality for 2050,” he said.

MAN Energy Solutions has been working on the ammonia-fuelled engine since 2019 with more than 100,000 man-hours so far recorded. The first B&W is a 60-bore type, suitable for a wide range of sectors.

“In the short term, we expect a fast uptake of ammonia-fuelled engines towards the end of the decade as we obtain positive seagoing experience from the first engines,” said Thomas S. Hansen, head of sales and promotion, MAN Energy Solutions.

“In the long term, we expect ammonia to comprise around 35% of fuel used onboard large merchant-marine vessels by 2050 due to lower production cost compared to other e-fuels relevant for large merchant-marine vessels.”