Mitsubishi Shipbuilding completes design of ammonia fuel supply system

Japan's Mitsubishi Shipbuilding on February 22 announced the finalisation of the basic design for an ammonia fuel supply system for the X-DF-A engine, an ammonia-fuelled large, low-speed two-stroke marine engine currently under development by Swiss WinGD.

This marks a step towards the commercialisation of cleaner and more sustainable maritime propulsion systems, the company said.

The collaboration between Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and WinGD, initiated through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June 2023, aims to contribute to the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) ambitious target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime industry by 2050.

Ammonia, being a zero-CO2-emission fuel when combusted, has garnered attention for its potential to play a vital role in reducing GHG emissions in the maritime sector. 

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding said it is committed to conducting further technical studies with WinGD to facilitate the commercialisation of the ammonia fuel supply system. The company is also actively engaged in the development of marine ammonia handling systems, encompassing fuel supply and ammonia gas abatement systems for a wide range of ammonia fuel combustion systems, including the X-DF-A engine.