Wärtsilä and Simon Møkster study feasibility of ammonia and LNG dual-fuel operations
Tests will be carried out on the offshore supply vessel (OSV), ‘Stril Pioneer’.
The technology group Wärtsilä and Norway based Simon Møkster Shipping have signed a collaboration agreement to carry out a feasibility study on utilising ammonia as the main fuel in dual-fuel engines where LNG is the alternative fuel.
The aim is to demonstrate the feasibility of converting vessels for dual ammonia – LNG operation, and that it can be carried out safely and efficiently. The agreement was signed in October 2021.
Anne Jorunn Møkster, Owner and CEO Simon Møkster, says:
“We are excited to join Wärtsilä in this project. We see this as a step towards meeting our targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and our ambition is to cut our fleet’s CO2 emissions by 40 percent by 2030. By 2050 we expect to reach net-zero carbon emissions.”
Cato Esperø, Head of Sales Norway, Wärtsilä, says:
“Decarbonisation is central to the future of shipping, and Wärtsilä is totally committed to helping our customers achieve this goal. This collaboration agreement represents further evidence of this commitment. We are leading the way towards the adoption of alternative cleaner future marine fuels through extensive testing and research, and we see ammonia as an extremely promising option.”
The testing will be carried out on the ‘Stril Pioneer’, an offshore supply vessel (OSV) currently operating with Wärtsilä 32DF dual-fuel engines using LNG as the primary fuel. Simon Møkster has been one of the pioneers in the use of LNG as a marine fuel, adding the ‘Stril Pioneer’ to its fleet in 2003. By using a blend of ammonia and LNG, emissions of CO2 from the combustion process will be considerably reduced.
