Five prominent players in the maritime industry have come together to explore the establishment of a supply chain for clean ammonia ship-to-ship (StS) bunkering along the U.S. West Coast.
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), CALAMCO, Fleet Management Limited, Sumitomo Corporation, and TOTE Services signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on March 29, with the shared goal of spearheading the creation of a robust and competitive supply chain for clean ammonia StS bunkering on the West Coast.
The MoU outlines plans for a collaborative feasibility study to be conducted at various ports along the U.S. West Coast, including Oakland, Benicia, and other major nearby ports. Notably, Port of Benicia is a pivotal hub for vehicle-handling, while Port of Oakland ranks among the largest container ports in the United States.
The primary objective of the feasibility study is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing CALAMCO’s existing ammonia storage terminal at the Port of Stockton for a pilot demonstration project of ammonia bunkering. This project aims to serve car carriers at the Benicia port and container vessels at the Oakland port, marking the initial steps toward widespread adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel on the U.S. West Coast.
Ammonia (Credits: Offshore Energy)
Under the MoU, ABS will lead a risk assessment of ammonia StS bunkering and collaborate with relevant U.S. authorities to establish port regulations and operational guidelines. CALAMCO will assess the feasibility of ammonia loading operations from its terminal to ammonia bunkering articulated tug-barge (AB-ATB). Fleet Management Limited will focus on developing safe and reliable ammonia bunkering procedures from a ship manager’s perspective and offer technical support for the design development of AFV and AB-ATB.
Sumitomo Corporation will play a crucial role in structuring, integrating, and promoting the end-to-end supply chain of green/blue ammonia, encompassing sourcing, transportation, storage, and bunkering. Meanwhile, TOTE Services will contribute by developing AB-ATB and ensuring safe and reliable ammonia bunkering procedures from the AB-ATB’s standpoint, drawing from their expertise in LNG bunkering in the U.S.
Panos Koutsourakis, Vice President of Global Sustainability at the American Bureau of Shipping, expressed pride in their leading expertise in ammonia as a marine fuel, highlighting their contribution to the study on the U.S. West Coast.
Koji Endo, General Manager of the Energy Division at Sumitomo Corporation, emphasized their ambition to establish the first Ship to Ship ammonia bunkering base on the US West Coast, underscoring their commitment to providing customers with environmentally friendly solutions for maritime transport.
ABS, Fleet Management Limited, Sumitomo, and TOTE are involved in a similar feasibility study focused on establishing a comprehensive and competitive supply chain for green ammonia ship-to-ship bunkering on the U.S. East Coast. Notable participants in this endeavor include A.P. Moller – Maersk, Georgia Ports Authority, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, and Savage Services.
