Bureau Veritas  has awarded an Approval in Principle  for an ammonia  bunkering vessel designed by Sasaki Shipbuilding  on January 31, 2024. The vessel design is based on a joint study of ammonia bunkering rules between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines  and BV.

BV and MOL have been studying the potential of ammonia bunkering since 2022, creating a foundation for this AiP. Sasaki were then invited by MOL to design the 12,000m3 NH3 bunkering vessel based on BV’s Rules.

For the purposes of the AiP, BV reviewed Sasaki’s design with consideration to its NR 620 Rules for bunkering ships and NR 467 Rules for the classification of steel ships. The vessel is also eligible for BV’s CLEANSHIP and GREENPASSPORT additional class notations.

The AiP was handed over by Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice-President, BV Marine & Offshore, and Alex Gregg-Smith, Senior Vice President & Chief Executive, BV Marine & Offshore North Asia and China, to Mr.Makoto Yamaguchi, Chief Technical Officer, MOL, and Mr.Jiro Sasaki, Chief Operating Officer, Sasaki, during a ceremony at Head office of MOL in Tokyo.

Bureau Veritas has a long history of helping the maritime industry prepare and adopt new fuel technology. Since the 1960s, we have been pioneers in LNG, and we are now supporting progress in new fuels to decarbonize shipping. MOL and Sasaki’s partnership on this project is an excellent illustration of how collaboration will drive this progress, and prepare the fleet for the challenges of the energy transition.