MAN’s trials of ammonia-powered engine achieve breakthrough

MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) has successfully trialled an ammonia-powered two-stroke engine. Further tests will be carried out this year with a view to selling the first engines in 2024, and offering retrofit options from 2025.

Currently there are close to 200 ammonia ready ships on order with many experts predicting the fuel will climb the ranks to become one of the most popular fuels of the future despite its safety concerns.

Seen as one of the most promising alternative fuels for the maritime energy transition, ammonia can be combusted with almost no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, using ammonia as a shipping fuel can create potential safety hazards, including toxicity.

A new joint study into ammonia safety onboard ships undertaken by the Lloyd’s Register (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS), has found that a range of mitigation methods, from ship design to crew training and operations, are required to keep toxicity risks to crew within published tolerable limits.