Fortescue ammonia-fuelled demonstrator vessel completes manoeuvring trials

Australian company Fortescue, with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), has successfully completed propulsion and manoeuvrability trials of its Singapore-registered, ammonia-fuelled converted platform supply vessel FFI Green Pioneer in the Port of Singapore.

The trials were conducted using 6.4 cubic metres of liquid ammonia, in combination with diesel and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) as marine fuel over 10 days from late April to early May.

The trials followed the successful conduct of the world’s first dual-fuelled ammonia fuel trial in the Port of Singapore by FFI Green Pioneer in March 2024, in which the vessel received flag approval from the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) and the “Gas Fuelled Ammonia” notation by classification society DNV to use ammonia, in combination with diesel, as a marine fuel.

The approval and notation were awarded upon the completion of a series of fuel trials that were conducted over a period of seven weeks in February and March using five cubic metres of liquid ammonia. The trials, conducted by FFI Green Pioneer at anchor, included testing of the vessel’s ammonia storage systems, associated piping, gas fuel delivery system, retrofitted engines, and seaworthiness.

The vessel was exhibited during the Singapore Maritime Week in April 2024 to enable interested parties to learn about the trials, emergency procedures, and training of seafarers for the safe handling of ammonia fuel.

To facilitate this receny set of trials involving propulsion and manoeuvrability tests as part of the vessel’s ongoing sea trials, a further tranche of approximately 6.4 cubic metres of liquid ammonia was loaded on April 23 at Vopak Banyan Terminal, Jurong Island.

A designated test area along Raffles Reserved Anchorage was secured by MPA for the trials, and an emergency operations centre (EOC) was set up at MPA’s Port Operations Control Centre for representatives of MPA, Fortescue, Vopak, research institutes, and government agencies to monitor the fuel loading and sea trial operations.

Ammonia plume modelling and drone surveillance was also used by the EOC to support safety and incident planning and response. Fortescue said this set of trials can be enhanced to support the sea trials of planned ammonia-fuelled vessels under the Singapore Registry of Ships prior to delivery if required.

The propulsion and manoeuvrability trials also included tests to validate the management of nitrogen-based emissions, and assessment of the vessel’s engine capability to operate on varying amounts of HVO in combination with ammonia.

As part of MPA’s efforts to strengthen maritime cybersecurity, MPA is also in discussion with Fortescue on the monitoring of info-comm technology and operational technology systems on board FFI Green Pioneer to develop resilience of vessels with alternative fuels against cyber threats.