Seaspan Corporation, in collaboration with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) and Foreship, has been granted Approval in Principle (AiP) by the classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design of a 15,000 TEU ammonia-powered container vessel. The certificates were presented at the MMMCZCS office in Copenhagen on July 28th, 2023.

Recognizing the potential of ammonia as a promising alternative marine fuel, Seaspan and MMMCZCS embarked on a joint project in 2022 to explore the challenges and opportunities of designing a sizeable ammonia-fueled container vessel. The project involved close collaboration with renowned ship designer Foreship and the classification society ABS, resulting in the developing of a concept design for a 15,000 TEU container vessel. The project included defining the safety objective, the impact of ammonia as a fuel on vessel performance, completing a hazard identification qualitative risk assessment, and developing the concept design. Documentation included a fuel range and endurance analysis, ammonia tank and system location assessments, general arrangement, main machinery and electrical system design, and initial vessel stability calculations.

This groundbreaking initiative is closely linked to the Singapore Ammonia Bunkering Feasibility Study (SABRE) consortium, which aims to establish an ammonia supply chain in Singapore. Phase 1 of the study focused on a comprehensive technical and commercial feasibility analysis of ammonia bunkering in Singapore, including a preliminary design for an ammonia bunkering vessel. Phase 2 will concentrate on advancing the commercial feasibility of the project, ensuring contractual terms across the supply chain are well-prepared for establishing an ammonia bunkering operation.  The 15,000 TEU vessel was designed as a potential receiver of ammonia fuel from bunker vessels currently under design and development.

Torsten Pedersen, Chief Operating Officer at Seaspan, stated,

“Developing an ammonia-fueled vessel is a key step in decarbonizing the maritime sector and is part of our decarbonization strategy. Combining our knowledge and experience of designing and operating container ships with major partners at the MMMCZCS ensures a safe and practical ammonia-fueled design for the container sector, providing confidence for ammonia suppliers and original equipment manufacturers to invest in this fuel.”

Speaking on the presentation of the AiP, Peter Jackson, Vice-President Projects & Technology at Seaspan, added,

“This is a perfect example of industry collaboration, where leading maritime organizations work together and take tangible steps to decarbonize the maritime industry. Ammonia is a promising future marine fuel, and this project is a vital and significant step in developing and realizing ammonia-powered containerships.”

A report detailing the concept design, how the ammonia safety case was developed, and outcomes from the risk assessment will be published by MMMCZCS later this year. The potential commercialization of the vessel design concept based on technology and shipyard readiness will be the focus of the next stage of this project.