Singapore grants ITOCHU subsidiary approval for ammonia bunkering trials

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has granted authorisation to ZETA Bunkering Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s ITOCHU Corporation, to conduct ammonia bunkering trials in Singapore.

According to ITOCHU, the authorisation was issued on April 27, 2026, and will take effect from May 15, 2026, for a trial period of up to two years, subject to Singapore’s regulatory framework.

The approval follows MPA’s review of safety studies, risk assessments, and operational plans submitted by ZETA for ammonia bunkering activities. The trials are intended to evaluate the technical readiness, infrastructure, operational procedures, and safety requirements associated with ammonia as a marine fuel.

The initiative forms part of ITOCHU’s broader strategy to develop ammonia-fuelled shipping and establish an international ammonia fuel supply chain.

In June 2025, ITOCHU ordered what it described as the world’s first newly built ammonia bunkering vessel through its subsidiary Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping Pte. Ltd. The vessel is being constructed by Sasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., will operate under the Singapore Registry of Shipping, and is expected to be delivered in September 2027.

ITOCHU plans to conduct demonstration bunkering operations in the fourth quarter of 2027 in collaboration with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). The demonstrations are expected to involve ship-to-ship ammonia fuel transfer to ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulk carriers jointly owned by CMB.TECH NV and MOL and chartered by MOL.

The company stated that the project will involve continued collaboration with MPA and maritime stakeholders to develop operational standards, infrastructure, and emergency response frameworks for ammonia bunkering operations. The trials are intended to support the development of commercial ammonia bunkering services in Singapore and potentially other global maritime hubs as the shipping sector explores alternative low-carbon fuel options.