Fuelling ships on ammonia

The Norwegian government has granted the equivalent of around NZ$7.6 million apiece to two vessels to enable the use of ammonia as a fuel. 

All 12 of Hoegh Autoliners’ Aurora-class pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) will have the ammonia-ready notation with the funding helping to bridge the gap between ammonia-ready and ammonia-capable for two of the vessels. 

The installation of an extra fuel tank to maintain range using the less energy-dense fuel and an ammonia engine are the main investments needed to move from the ammonia-ready LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil design of the Aurora class to operate on ammonia.

Looking ahead to fuel supply, Hoegh aims to use mostly carbon-neutral ammonia as fuel for the vessels, but says it could take some time before availability and price reach “satisfactory: levels. It expects a gradual ramp-up of green ammonia use from 2027.

The Aurora-class vessels are being built at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) with delivery dates starting in the second half of 2024 and two vessels due every six months thereafter.