KR leads on ammonia effluent standards

The initiative brings together key Korean shipbuilders – HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean – alongside the Korea Testing & Research Institute.

“This working group is a pivotal milestone, uniting the maritime industry to lead global safety standards for alternative fuels,” said KR executive vice-president, Kim Kyungbok.

Ammonia is emerging as a zero-carbon fuel alternative for shipping, but its toxicity poses serious environmental risks. While ships equipped with wet treatment systems generate ammonia effluent during operation, no international guidelines currently exist for its proper handling, creating uncertainty for ship designers and operators.

The joint working group aims to address this gap by developing technical standards for the storage, treatment and discharge of ammonia effluent.

Draft guidelines are expected to be submitted to the IMO in 2026.