Hefei, China — The “Anhui,” the world’s first demonstration vessel powered entirely by ammonia, has successfully completed its maiden voyage in Hefei, located in East China’s Anhui province. The trial marks a major advancement in the search for carbon-free alternatives in maritime transport.
Ammonia is widely used as a feedstock in the chemical industry and is increasingly being explored as a marine fuel due to its high energy density and carbon-free combustion properties. When fully combusted, ammonia emits only nitrogen and water, making it a promising candidate for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry.
The “Anhui” was jointly developed by the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and its subsidiary, Shenzhen Haixu New Energy Company. The vessel is equipped with a 200 kilowatt high-speed gas internal combustion generator, two 100 kilowatt propulsion motors, and a twin-screw propulsion system. It has a full load capacity of 50 tonnes and a cruising speed of 10 knots.
Wu Dianwu, a researcher at the Institute of Energy, noted that the project team overcame several complex challenges. These included achieving plasma ignition of pure ammonia fuel, maintaining sustained combustion, catalytically cracking ammonia to generate hydrogen, and managing the combustion of hydrogen-ammonia mixtures in internal combustion engines. The team also developed custom components, such as a pure ammonia burner and catalytic cracking systems tailored to the vessel’s design.
The maiden voyage demonstrated stable combustion of pure ammonia with nearly zero carbon dioxide emissions and effective nitrogen oxide control. These results underscore the potential of ammonia-based fuels for use in marine transportation, industrial heating systems, and fuel cells.
Wang Junli, secretary general of the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, described the successful trial as a critical step toward building a clean and low-carbon energy framework for maritime operations. He added that scaling pure ammonia engines to the megawatt level could unlock a wider range of applications, contributing meaningfully to China’s dual carbon goals of peaking emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Tags: Ammonia Fuel, Green Shipping, Marine Innovation, Maritime Decarbonization, Zero Carbon
Recent Posts
TSUNEISHI Launches World’s First Methanol Dual-Fuel KAMSARMAX Bulk Carrier in the Philippines
Grimaldi Group Launches Ammonia-Ready Car Carrier Grande Shanghai in China
Incat Tasmania to Build Two Battery-Electric Ferries for Denmark’s Molslinjen
YamnaCo Signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh to Develop Large-Scale Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Project
WNTI and NEMO Sign MoU to Advance Nuclear-Powered Shipping and Mobile Nuclear Energy Solutions
TotalEnergies and CMA CGM Form Joint Venture for LNG Bunkering Operations in Rotterdam
Keel laid for Bibby Marine’s first zero-emission eCSOV
New Report Highlights Potential of Voluntary Insetting to Support Maritime Decarbonisation, Calls for Robust Safeguards