Green Ammonia bunkring coming to a port near you:
Ammonia as power source for floating wind service vessels?:
Things are happening on the Ammonia front:
Its illegal to use ammonia on any refrigeration system that isn’t required to be ammonia for physical limitations of safe refrigerants for a reason. This leads to ammonia reefer systems being rarely used and are very dangerous and have highly skilled technicians to work on it (and even they die pretty frequently).
I can only imagine how many deaths will result from this and the countless amounts of people that will absorb toxic levels in a marine application unless they wildly increase both the cost of building and the level of skill that crew these ships.
I would imagine that the people working on the development of ammonia as a fuel for ships know the dangers associated with it and are not planning to kill off marine engineers anmasse.
Maybe they are also looking at ways to remove the greatest danger from the engine space? Engineers!!
I’ve worked in design teams and I don’t share your confidence. Ammonia reefer plants regularly kill people and they are built to really high standards, something maritime industry isn’t known for. This idea is bad and gets worse as the ships age. 10-15 years when every seal is rotten and neglected looks like the most likely future for these boats if they make it that long without getting condemned. So I truly hope these are maintenance and human free designs.
I’ve seen plenty of full proof systems fail over time, especially things that ‘never’ leak.
I don’t know what type of design project you have been involved with, but I feel certain that the people and companies involved in developing the various “Future Marine Fuel” projects, incl. Ammonia, have the knowledge, experience and resources required to ensure the safety of the end product.
Yara has produced Ammonia for fertilisers and explosives for many years, so I trust they know how to handle it safely:
Well known Engine manufacturers like MAN B&W, Wartsila and others are developing engines and associated systems to meet the requirements of IMO, Class and Flag State authorities for both safety and efficiency:
Here is an an article from a year ago about Ammonia as Marine Fuel:
Certain its safe?
Sub15_attach4.pdf (47.9 KB)
Well these plants were designed by teams that understood the health hazards as well and I’d hesitate to agree with you about your faith that this time it’ll be done right.
I’ve worked on both MAN B&W and Wartsila engines… both are designed not to leak fuel. That is why they both have dedicated piped systems to contain and re-use leaked off fuel.
This industry is notorious for cost cutting, environmental disasters, and a nonchalant disregard for health and safety. This is truly a terrible idea.
Meanwhile production and distribution of green ammonia is developing worldwide:
Ammonia is not only an option for deep sea ships:
Out with old fashion LNG, in with clean and green ammonia:
In terms of “cost cutting, accidents, environmental disasters and a nonchalant disregard for health and safety” I can think of another industry that was notorious for that. (Still is in some places)