Commodities logistics firm Trammo, global energy supplier OCI and ship-to-ship specialist James Fisher Fendercare have conducted an ammonia bunkering pilot between two vessels at a terminal in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
It marks an important step in preparing the port for vessels bunkering clean ammonia, which releases no carbon dioxide during combustion. The first ships capable of using ammonia as a bunker fuel are expected in 2026 or 2027.
The pilot involved transferring 800 cbm of liquid, cold grey ammonia – which shares the same chemical properties as clean ammonia – at -33°C between two ships. It took about two-and-a-half hours and was conducted alongside a new quay at the Maasvlakte 2 APM terminal.
The demonstration validated the port of Rotterdam safety framework for ammonia bunkering, establishing that it is possible to do this safely and without ammonia release in the port.
Various parties collaborated on the pilot, facilitated by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. OCI, owner and operator of the port’s ammonia terminal, partnered with Trammo, which supplied the two tankers carrying OCI’s ammonia.
Bunker barge operator Victrol shared its bunkering expertise during the pilot. The DCMR Environmental Protection Agency, Rijnmond Safety Region (VRR), and the Joint Fire Service (GB) were involved to ensure it was conducted safely and smoothly.
Preparing ports for a multi-fuel future
Rotterdam is the world’s second-largest bunker port, with approximately ten million tonnes of fuel bunkered annually.
Together with those involved in the pilot, the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to enable the bunkering of all alternative low-carbon fuels in the future, promoting greater sustainability for international shipping.
Low-carbon ammonia is expected to play a key role in the large-scale decarbonisation of shipping, but regulatory and safety hurdles remain to be overcome.
The 83rd session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) recently approved new requirements on greenhouse gas (GHG) fuel intensity, in combination with a pricing and reward mechanism, taking effect from 2028.
To properly prepare the port to receive and bunker ships using new fuels, various steps will be taken to ensure that all is in order.
The port has already fully implemented this method for LNG and to a large degree for methanol. For ammonia, the pilot concludes level 6 and raises the port’s readiness to level 7, with all safety procedures ready to allow bunkering on a project basis.
With this enhanced readiness, the port of Rotterdam is ensuring that it is prepared for bunkering of the first ammonia-fuelled ships. The learnings of the pilot and the established procedures will be disseminated to the EU, other ports and relevant parties.
The European CO2 Summit 2025 was recently held by gasworld in Rotterdam. The event heard how the key maritime hub is well positioned to capitalise on Europe’s CO2 future.
