Safety Concepts for Ammonia as a Marine Fuel

Globally, shipping accounts for about three percent of CO2 emissions. The potential for reducing harmful greenhouse gases is correspondingly high. Researchers have therefore been working for some time on more sustainable and climate-friendly marine fuels, such as green hydrogen. However, ammonia is also considered a promising alternative. It is easier to liquefy than hydrogen and has a higher energy density, which facilitates storage and transport. Its combustion produces neither CO₂ nor sulfur emissions, and other air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and soot are largely avoided. At the same time, caution is required when handling ammonia: it is harmful to health and can lead to severe poisoning. While safety protocols are already in place and well-established in other sectors, the use of ammonia as a marine fuel is a new development. If larger quantities are to be bunkered in ports in the future, measures specifically tailored to these locations will therefore be needed to protect people and the environment.

A project has now been launched at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences with precisely this goal in mind. Researchers at the Smart Mobility Institute aim to develop preventive safety concepts for ammonia bunkering at the port locations of Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven. For this reason, the scientists are working closely with “Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG,” the Lower Saxony-based operating company for the state-owned ports, and the “Port Authority Bremen.” “Through systematic risk analysis and the derivation of protective measures, the port-side foundation for the safe and environmentally sound use of ammonia as an energy source in the maritime sector is being established. This not only supports the decarbonization of the maritime economy but also strengthens the region’s capacity for innovation and competitive position. Furthermore, it promotes collaboration between academia, industry, and government, thereby contributing to sustainable and future-proof port development,” explains project leader Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Arens.

The project was initiated by the Senator for Economic Affairs, Ports, and Transformation of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. Senator Kristina Vogt comments: “To become more climate-friendly, the shipping industry needs new, sustainable fuels. Ammonia is well-suited for this purpose: It is easier to liquefy and transport than hydrogen, and when it burns, it produces no CO₂ and no sulfur. Shipowners decide for themselves which fuel to use. But as a port location, we are creating the conditions necessary for such solutions to be used safely. Because ammonia must be handled with care, we are now developing appropriate safety concepts for Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven as part of the RisBA project.”

The project “Risk Assessment for Ammonia Bunkering in Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven” is funded by the Northwest Metropolitan Region. The project will run for twelve months.