Svanehøj adds a significant reference to its expanding portfolio within ammonia applications. The Danish liquified gas equipment specialist has been awarded a contract to supply 32 deepwell fuel pumps for a new series of ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers.

A new series of 210,000 DWT ammonia-fueled bulk carriers will be equipped with deepwell fuel pumps from Svanehøj. As a subcontractor to the AFSS supplier SunRui Marine Environment Engineering Co., Ltd., Svanehøj will provide four Deepwell (DW) NH3 Fuel Pumps for each of the first eight vessels in the series, totaling 32 fuel pumps with the first delivered in Q4 2024.

With over 2,000 ammonia-ready marine pumps in operation or on order, including nearly 100 fuel pumps, Svanehøj’s proven track record and vast experience in ammonia applications significantly influenced the decision to choose Svanehøj’s specialized deepwell pump design for the new ammonia-fueled bulk carriers.

“Being among the world’s first ammonia-fueled bulk carriers, this project is crucial to our ambition to support the zero-carbon transition. The contract results from a rewarding process in which we have configured the optimal fuel pump solution for this new ship design. We are privileged to contribute our expertise and experience to such a pioneering project, which will set a benchmark for the future use of green ammonia in shipping”, said Johnny Houmann, Chief Sales Officer at Svanehøj.

Safe operation and maintenance

Another decisive factor in choosing Svanehøj deepwell pumps was safety. As ammonia is highly toxic and corrosive, it has been pivotal to the shipowner and its partners to ensure safe operation and maintenance onboard, equivalent to conventionally fueled vessels.

Svanehøj’s deepwell design presented some significant advantages. As deepwell pumps are long-shafted (in this case, 13 meters long), all electrical components are placed outside the tank, ensuring easy access during service, and preventing excessive heat from the motor to increase boil off gas and pressure inside the tank. The Svanehøj pumps are designed with a hermetically sealed MagDrive coupling, which completely separates the gas in the tank system from the surroundings. For this project, the pumps will be installed in caisson pipes with a patented retraction system, which enables pumps to be extracted for repair, even with liquid gas in the fuel tank.

The new bulk carriers will be built at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding (QBS) in China and mark a significant step in making ammonia technology a commercially available option for long-distance shipping, as the global fleet prepares to adopt green fuels to meet long-term decarbonization targets.