Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Secures Order for Ammonia Fuel Handling System

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has received an order from Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine for its MAmmoSS ammonia fuel handling system, which will support testing of next-generation ammonia-fuelled marine engines in Japan.

The system will be installed at Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine’s facility and used for shop testing of ammonia engines based on technologies from Everllence SE and WinGD, two major marine engine licensors.

Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine holds licences from both companies, allowing the new MAmmoSS installation to support testing across different ammonia-engine platforms.

MAmmoSS Designed for Multiple Ammonia Engine Types

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will design and optimise the system to work with ammonia-fuelled engines from both Everllence and WinGD.

MAmmoSS, short for Mitsubishi Ammonia Supply and Safety System, combines equipment for supplying ammonia to marine engines with systems for controlling excess ammonia gas.

The system includes:

• High-pressure ammonia fuel supply for diesel-cycle dual-fuel engines
• Low-pressure ammonia supply for Otto-cycle dual-fuel engines
• Ammonia gas abatement equipment
• Engineering support for piping between system modules

Its modular design allows different configurations to be developed depending on the engines, boilers and other equipment installed onboard a vessel.

System to Support Land-Based Engine Testing

The ordered MAmmoSS system will initially be used for land-based shop tests rather than installation onboard a commercial vessel.

After delivery to Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine, it will provide the ammonia handling infrastructure required to test engines developed under the Everllence and WinGD licences.

The project represents another step in developing the supporting equipment needed before ammonia-fuelled propulsion can be deployed more widely across commercial shipping.

Safe Ammonia Handling Becomes Key Requirement

Ammonia is attracting increasing attention as an alternative marine fuel because it does not produce carbon dioxide when burned.

However, its toxicity creates additional safety requirements for storage, fuel supply and handling onboard vessels.

Fuel systems therefore need to manage both the delivery of ammonia to engines and any excess gas generated during operations.

MAmmoSS includes an ammonia gas abatement system designed to reduce excess ammonia to concentrations suitable for safe release.

Shipping Industry Prepares for Ammonia-Fuelled Vessels

Development of ammonia propulsion is accelerating as the shipping industry works towards lower greenhouse-gas emissions.

The International Maritime Organization’s 2023 greenhouse-gas strategy targets net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, increasing pressure on shipowners, engine manufacturers and shipbuilders to develop lower-carbon propulsion technologies.

Ammonia is among the alternative fuels being developed for future deep-sea shipping, alongside methanol, LNG-based pathways and other low- and zero-carbon energy sources.

Its adoption will depend not only on engine technology but also on the availability of safe fuel-storage, supply and bunkering systems.

Mitsubishi Expands Ammonia Marine Technology Portfolio

The Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine order adds to Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s development of equipment for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has positioned MAmmoSS as a packaged solution that can be adapted to vessels operating multiple ammonia-fuelled engines or boilers.

The company expects demand for ammonia handling technology to grow as engine development progresses and more shipowners prepare vessels capable of operating on alternative fuels.

By supplying the system for engine testing, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is moving its ammonia technology further into the infrastructure required to validate future commercial marine engines before deployment at sea.