BV publishes rules and guidelines for NH3 as a fuel

The Ammonia-Prepared is applicable to newbuilds and certifies that a ship has been designed and constructed to be converted to use ammonia as fuel at a later date. The notation targets the spaces and structural components that will accommodate future ammonia fuel tanks, fuel handling equipment and ammonia vapour treatment installations.

Ammonia-Prepared also covers specific requirements for the conversion of engines and boilers from using fuel oil, LNG or multiple fuels to ammonia. BV noted that the notation was developed in collaboration with different stakeholders including ship owners, equipment makers, designers and shipyards.

Bureau Veritas noted that the Ammonia-Prepared notation was a prelude to the publication of a full Rule Note on ammonia as fuel: NR 671. This Rule Note, which was expected to be published later in 2021, would primarily concern the safety aspects of managing ammonia in storage tanks, fuel-piping systems, and during bunkering.

Bureau Veritas noted that a number of challenges surrounding the use of ammonia in the shipping industry needed to be addressed, including its lower energy density compared to other fuels, its comparatively poor combustibility properties, as well as its toxicity. The latter would require stringent measures to protect the crew and/or passengers from exposure.

Laurent Leblanc, Senior Vice President Technical & Operations at Bureau Veritas, commented: “Ammonia is considered a key fuel on the road to the IMO’s 2030 and 2050 GHG and carbon reduction targets. We are working to advance its safe development and are currently involved in joint industry projects to assess the risks of ammonia. The release of these new notations is a major step to help ship-owners, designers, shipyards and charterers make progress in their sustainability journeys and inform their future investments.”

Bureau Veritas concluded by noting that it is developing rules and guidelines to address the safety, risk and performance requirements for innovation in future fuels and propulsion systems. Forthcoming rules from Bureau Veritas in 2021 will address methanol and hydrogen as marine fuels, in addition to the upcoming ammonia rules.