Ian TaylorAlthough it believes that there is ‘still a long way to go’ in the development of ammonia as a marine fuel, Stream Marine Technical (SMT) has informed ship.energy that it has been helping to pave the way, acting as a consultant on awareness training in Singapore, Rotterdam and Western Australia.
The company has also worked with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) in putting together an emergency response plan to minimise the impact of accidental ammonia release and ensure the safety of crews and vessels.
In a statement sent to ship.energy today (9 September), SMT Group CEO Martin White looked at some the challenges posed by shipping’s transition to alternative fuels.
‘There is still a lack of information and development in a lot of these fuels currently to say there is one definitive leading fuel coming out into the market,’ said White. ‘A lot of them need further development to ensure they are not only affordable and accessible, but more importantly carbon free. I think as we transition, ship owners will be looking at using a mix of fuels and ammonia is certainly in that mix.
‘Cost efficiency is the main driver for shipping companies, as much as they want to be green and sustainable, they need to balance the books. Currently, ammonia and other new fuels are mostly more expensive than oil. They will come down in price I’m sure by the time we get to 2050 but currently they are too expensive for many companies.’
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Tom Barlow-Brown
