Norwegian approval for ammonia bunkering barge

Once complete the floating stationary barge – constructed by Yara Clean Ammonia and Azane – will have a capacity of 1,000 cubic metres (650 tonnes) of low-emission ammonia. The directorate’s permit allows for up to 416 operations annually, many of these expected to be bunkering operations for offshore supply vessels that regularly call at Fjord Base in Florø.

“This acknowledges how ammonia can be used safely and efficiently as a shipping fuel,” said Magnus Ankarstrand, president of Yara Clean Ammonia. “The ammonia terminal, will enable the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and showcase ammonia’s assets as a zero-emission shipping fuel.”

Yara Clean Ammonia and Azane plan to roll out a network of terminals across Scandinavia. Demand is gaining momentum in Norway as ENOVA, which manages the Norwegian Climate and Energy fund on behalf of the government, plans ammonia grant tenders for both ammonia powered ships and ammonia infrastructure in 2024.

To support this there are multiple newbuilding projects in the pipeline plus an ongoing ammonia-powered platform supply vessels tender process.

“This marks a milestone for ammonia as a fuel,” said Steinar Kostøl, vice president, Projects & Products, Azane.

“Now we finally know with certainty the safety zones we will have to operate under when bunkering ammonia. The required safety zones are very encouraging and demonstrate how it will be possible to bunker ammonia in the biggest and busiest ports around the world.”