A consortium led by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has delivered a report to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) focused on the safety of ammonia as a marine fuel, with recommendations that expand upon existing International Maritime Organization (IMO) interim guidelines.

The report, which is publicly available, was developed in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Fundación Valenciaport. It includes recommendations based on insights gathered through a survey and an online workshop with industry stakeholders.

ABS notes that industry feedback emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive understanding of ammonia's properties to effectively mitigate safety risks associated with its use as a marine fuel.

The study included risk assessment methodologies such as Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) studies, which are typically conducted confidentially.

"ABS remains committed to supporting the maritime industry as it navigates future energy options such as ammonia as marine fuel. This latest report for EMSA reflects our close collaboration with industry stakeholders and academia to provide critical information to advance the discussions around low- and zero-carbon operations for the future," said Vassilios Kroustallis, ABS Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

Professor Nikolaos P. Ventikos of NTUA commented: "Exploring pathways toward more environmentally sustainable maritime transport is essential for society, but it must always be pursued with safety as the highest priority. This is why the role of organizations such as EMSA is so important. By funding rigorous research and making its results publicly available, they enable informed decision-making across the entire maritime community. For NTUA, as a university deeply committed to open science, it is particularly meaningful to facilitate and carry out risk assessment studies, such as HAZOP, that are traditionally confidential."

Josep Sanz-Argent, Director of Energy Transition and Sustainability at Fundación Valenciaport, remarked: "Ammonia will play a key role in the decarbonization of the maritime sector and ports must prepare for bunkering operations to be carried out safely within their jurisdiction. The results of the study will contribute significantly to preparing that future."

ABS is a classification society that has been operating for over 160 years. NTUA, founded in 1837, is Greece's oldest technical university, while Fundación Valenciaport is a research, innovation and training centre based in Valencia, Spain, serving the port logistics cluster.

The collection of EMSA reports on Safety of Ammonia for Use in Ships can be accessed by clicking here.