MAN Energy Solutions to undertake ammonia study

The study, which will be held in Oslo with DNV GL, is expected to identify any potential safety issues that would need to be addressed before the engine designer can submit a request for flag acceptance of the use of ammonia as a gaseous fuel in a specific ship.

The application is expected to be submitted before the middle of the year, MAN Energy Solutions’ promotion manager for dual-fuelled engines René Laursen, told the Motorship in Copenhagen on Friday 8 March.

The engine designer is currently undertaking development of its current dual-fuel ME-LGIP engine, which is capable of operating on LPG fuel, to run on ammonia.

The application is expected to pave the way for flag acceptance of use of ammonia as a fuel. Two further studies are likely to be made later in 2019, with classification societies ABS and Bureau Veritas understood to be discussing separate studies with interested ship owners.

A formal application to remove regulatory obstacles to the use of ammonia as a fuel is expected to follow later in the year, Laursen said, when MAN Energy Solutions expects to submit an application for a partial amendment to section of the IGF Code, which governs International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).

Ammonia is currently accepted and used as a refrigerant aboard a number of vessels, Laursen noted. Studies of the heat release and combustion characteristics of ammonia had revealed that the gas had a comparatively slow flame velocity, unlike hydrogen, for example. However, this did not represent any obstacle to adoption in the two-stroke market.