Norway’s ro-ro carrier Höegh Autoliners has signed a letter of intent to collaborate with supplier of clean ammonia Sumitomo, on the supply and delivery of clean ammonia as a sustainable maritime fuel for the shipping line’s upcoming Aurora-class PCTC vessels.
The two companies said they are “charting a greener course in deep-sea transportation of Ro-Ro cargo, such as cars, high and heavy machinery and breakbulk, by forging an agreement to look into the supply of clean ammonia as a bunker fuel at the ports of Singapore and Jacksonville, USA from 2027 onwards.”
With this deal, they hope to stimulate the upscaling of the supply and demand of clean ammonia for maritime usage.
Both companies view clean ammonia as a promising future fuel for the maritime industry, offering substantial potential in addressing the challenges associated with greenhouse gas emissions in global shipping.
Moving forward, Höegh Autoliners and Sumitomo will embark on a comprehensive evaluation of the compatibility between the PCTC vessels and the ammonia bunkering facilities at the identified bunker ports.
They endeavour to make necessary adjustments to specifications for both “shore-to-ship” and “ship-to-ship” bunkering operations and undertake safety assessments to establish standardized operational protocols and regulations in close coordination with pertinent government agencies.
Andreas Enger, chief executive of Höegh Autoliners, said: “The commitment with Sumitomo Corporation is a strong strategic move in our efforts to offer our customers net-zero transportation globally, addressing the need for sustainable fuel availability in key ports such as Singapore and Jacksonville. Pioneering net-zero transportation on ammonia-powered vessels places us at the forefront of the international shipping industry, and we take pride in collaborating with Sumitomo Corporation to achieve this significant milestone.”
“Sumitomo Corporation supports Höegh Autoliners by exploring the potential to provide clean ammonia as a bunker fuel for their modern vessels at strategic port locations”, said Koji Endo, general manager of Energy Division, Sumitomo Corporation.
