Propulsion and maneuverability tests of the ammonia-powered dual-fuel Fortescue ship completed successfully

With the help of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Fortescue has finished testing the propulsion and maneuverability of its Fortescue Green Pioneer ship in the Singapore port.

Fortescue Green Pioneer – an ammonia-powered ship

In 2021, Fortescue announced that their first ship powered by ammonia would launch by the end of 2022. However, due to various reasons, its debut was pushed to the end of 2023. The Green Pioneer vessel has four engines; two are fueled by liquid ammonia while the other two use a blend of hydrocarbons from crude oil. Ammonia is crucial for fuel transition, and Fortescue’s project marks a significant step forward in maritime technology.

Fortescue’s 10-day trials have been completed

From April 23 to May 2, tests were conducted using 6.4 cubic meters (4.4 tons) of liquid ammonia, combined with diesel fuel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a second-generation biofuel, as marine fuel. The testing area included Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore, with an Emergency Operations Center set up at MPA’s Port Operations Control Center. Representatives from MPA, Fortescue, Vopak, research institutes, and government agencies monitored fuel loading and sea trials.

The tests focused on examining the ship’s ammonia storage systems, associated pipelines, gas fuel delivery system, upgraded engines, and seaworthiness during anchor tests. The Emergency Operations Center utilized ammonia plume modeling and drone surveillance for security and incident planning and response. There was a significant emphasis on validating nitrogen emissions management and evaluating the ship’s engines’ performance with different proportions of HVO combined with ammonia.

These recent tests mark the next phase of trials conducted on this vessel in 2024. As a result, the vessel received the “Gas Fuelled Ammonia” designation from the DNV classification society and has been approved and entered into the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS). In the coming months, the Fortescue Green Pioneer is expected to raise awareness of the global shipping industry’s need to embrace green solutions like ammonia.

Source: marinelink.com