Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Tests Ammonia Handling System for Vessels

As ammonia is increasingly touted as a viable alternative fuel for the maritime industry, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has announced that it is testing a novel ammonia handling system.

The system - which is named the Ammonia Gas Abatement System (AGAS) - is designed to safely treat surplus ammonia onboard vessels and is a sub-system of the company’s overarching Mitsubishi Ammonia Supply and Safety System (MAmmoSS®). 

The AGAS system is currently being tested at a demonstration facility at the Nagasaki District MHI Research & Innovation Centre, where the system is undergoing demonstration tests. Many of the tests are designed to simulate processing performance under various onboard scenarios. 

The overarching MAmmoSS® system comprises several subsystems in addition to AGAS, including a high-pressure/low-pressure fuel supply system (AFSS) and an ammonia fuel tank system. 

One of the key benefits of the MAmmoSS® system is that each of these subsystems is modular. This allows Mitsubishi shipbuilding to provide the correct modular configuration in a package for onboard power plants. 

Ammonia is being touted as a top alternative fuel for the industry due to its status as a zero-carbon fuel (when produced renewably), its broad availability, and the fact that there is already a large and well-established ammonia storage infrastructure and worldwide terminal network. 

The fuel is not without its challenges, however. Ammonia is highly toxic to both people and marine life, whilst its smell can be a powerful irritant. 

As such, systems - such as AGAS - which allow for the safe storage and handling of ammonia onboard, will be key to the adoption of the fuel source. 

Fuel cargo support from Brookes Bell

In addition to being a potential maritime fuel source, ammonia is currently a widely transported cargo. 

If your fleet consists of some of the 200 gas tankers capable of transporting ammonia, then it’s important that you have expert advice on hand. 

Here at Brookes Bell, our fuel cargo team is able to advise on a wide range of fuel cargo related issues such as fuel cargo quantity and quality disputes, fuel sample issues and more. 

Find out more about Brookes Bell’s fuel cargo services 

For more maritime industry insights, news and information, read the Brookes Bell News and Knowledge Hub…

Maersk to Pioneer First Container Vessel Conversion to Dual-Fuel Methanol Engine | Study Suggests Fuel Content Discrepancies May Be Present in 39% of Global Bunkers | Grimaldi Introduces the World’s Greenest Ro-Ro Ships on Intra-Europe Route