James Fisher Fendercare has supported an industry consortium to undertake ammonia ship-to-ship transfers in Pilbara, Australia.
This important pilot project was designed to demonstrate the operational viability of future ammonia bunkering and highlight the potential of ammonia as a zero-carbon solution. The successful pilot was undertaken at the Port of Dampier in Pilbara, Western Australia, a future green ammonia bunkering hub. The success of this operation helps to pave the way for ammonia to be used as a sustainable marine fuel.
The consortium, led by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), aimed to assess how ammonia can be safely bunkered for the marine industry, as a sustainable fuel. Due to the toxic and harmful nature of the cargo, its safe handling is a major industry concern.
Wee Meng Tan, chief projects officer at GCMD said, “As with any operation, and especially for one such pioneering endeavour, unexpected challenges and hiccups can arise. JF Fendercare’s ops team onboard the vessels professionally managed these changes to ensure operations continued tapping into their past experience with STS transfers. Their equipment performed as expected and we are grateful for their support in this pilot.”
Ruth Christie, product line director at JF Fendercare said, “We’re extremely proud to have been involved in this industry-leading initiative with the GCMD and its partners, helping to demonstrate the operational viability of ammonia as a sustainable marine fuel.
“The potential of ammonia is huge as a zero–carbon fuel to accelerate the energy transition. STS services can play a significant role in supporting the industry’s development, to meet increasing demand and support global energy supply security. The additional safety measures required for ammonia’s safe handling are a key consideration as the industry grows. Our thanks go to everyone involved in making this prestigious project a success.”
