Maersk reveals ammonia-powered boxship design

Working with Seaspan, the world’s largest boxship lessor, the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping revealed the design of an ammonia-powered 15,000 teu container vessel.

The ship measures 350 m in length between perpendiculars and 53.6 m in breadth. Its design incorporates a dual-fuel engine that runs on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and ammonia.

The unit sports an 11,600 cu m non-pressurised ammonia type B tank. It can run at 16 knots and travel 12,000 nautical miles, while the extended endurance of fuel gives it 18,500 nautical miles.

The project is connected to the SABRE Consortium, focusing on developing and demonstrating an ammonia supply chain in Singapore.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is projecting ammonia will account for around 45% of the demand for marine fuels in 2050.

Recently, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest containerline, tapped class society Lloyd’s Register, German engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) for a design for the ammonia dual-fuel operation of a future containership.