ABS partners in zero-carbon fuel conversion project

ABS is part of a joint development project (JDP) with the Mærsk McKinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping aiming to assess the technical, financial and environmental potential of converting existing vessels to zero-carbon fuels and technology.

Other partners in the project are A.P. Moller – Maersk, MAN Energy Solutions, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NYK Line, Seaspan Corporation and Total.

The main purpose of the project is to assess conversion options and to de-risk asset investments

The main purpose of the project is to assess conversion options and to de-risk asset investments by analyzing the emission reduction potential and techno-economic opportunity of converting vessels currently fueled by fossil-based fuels to zero or neutral carbon fuels.

In addition, the project will identify a number of technical modifications of relevance for today’s newbuildings to reduce the cost of future conversions, thus minimizing the associated financial risk for ship owners.

The project partners will address various vessel types including containerships, tankers- and bulkers and their potential conversion from conventional fuel oil, or integration with more recent fuels such LNG and LPG, to enable pathways to future solutions such as ammonia or methanol, as well as to the application of onboard carbon capture and storage.

For each pathway, the related safety aspects will be reviewed, and the financial assessment will cover items such as conversion, technology- and fuel costs as well as associated operating costs. The environment assessment will, among other things, cover the Green House Gas reduction potential over the lifetime of a vessel.

The project is facilitated by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center and fully funded by the involved parties.

The project is facilitated by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center and fully funded by the involved parties. The partners have committed to the center’s collaboration model in which they second experts to the center.

Global shipping accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions, a share that is likely to increase as other industries tackle climate emissions in the coming decades, says the center. Achieving the long-term target of decarbonization requires new fuel types and a systemic change within the industry. Shipping is a globally regulated industry, which provides an opportunity to secure broad-based industry adoption of new technology and fuels.

Shipping’s road map to decarbonization

Global shipping accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions, a share that is likely to increase as other industries tackle climate emissions in the coming decades, says the center. Achieving the long-term target of decarbonization requires new fuel types and a systemic change within the industry. Shipping is a globally regulated industry, which provides an opportunity to secure broad-based industry adoption of new technology and fuels