Oceania Marine, Kanfer plan ammonia-ready LNG bunker vessel for Australia

Oceania Marine Energy and Norway's Kanfer Shipping have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to bring the world’s first ammonia-ready LNG bunkering vessel to Australia, they said on June 15.

The companies will aim to build a long-term zero emission sustainable shipping industry in Australia using LNG as the transition fuel and move towards green ammonia and methanol as the targeted fuel for bunkering vessels operating in the northwest and eastern ports of Australia.

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Australia-based Oceania is progressing its LNG bunker license applications with key port authorities. “Australia is uniquely positioned to be the world leader in providing zero-carbon fuels to the shipping industry,” said Nick Bentley, director of Oceania Marine Energy.

Kanfer has an exclusive design license with fellow Norwegian firm CGR Arctic Marine, focused on enabling liquid gas transportation with the lowest possible environmental footprint and achieving zero emission marine transportation. The vessel design utilises LNG as a fuel combined with hybrid and peak energy saving technologies from Kongsberg Maritime, the companies said.

With future modification, the Rolls-Royce Bergen gas engines can be converted to operate on ammonia. The vessel can be adapted to load LNG, methanol or ammonia. “The northwest and eastern regions of Australia have among the highest levels of heavy tonnage marine traffic in the world, making them ideally suited for adoption of zero emission fuels,” said Stig Hagen, managing partner, Kanfer Shipping.

Kongsberg Maritime, with its partner Rolls-Royce Bergen Engines, believes that LNG will play a crucial role as the world transitions to carbon neutral and zero emission shipping. “Our LNG solution already gives a net 18% greenhouse gas reduction (including methane slip), and it can be converted to ammonia when the technology and infrastructure are ready,” said Kjell Harloff, senior vice president, engines, Kongsberg Maritime.