RINA, a leading company for naval classification and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) have signed an agreement for the development of the first ship in the world running on methanol and ammonia.

As part of the agreement, SDARI will concentrate on the development of the concept design, while RINA, putting to use its experience in alternative fuels, will check that international provisions are fulfilled. The project will provide for the use of ammonia and methanol on a tanker and will set the basis for the application of the same technology to other types of ships. MAN Energy Solutions will provide its top level skills in dual fuel technology.

RINA AND SDARI: “THIS IS HOW WE’LL CREATE THE FIRST METHANOL AND AMMONIA-FUELLED SHIP IN THE WORLD”

“The ship’s design – explains Giosuè Vezzuto, Executive Vice President Marine for RINA – is already at the forefront in terms of energy efficiency and, with the use of alternative fuels, the shipping industry could reach the ambitious IMO 2030 and 2050 objectives for reducing emissions. A ship designed specifically for the use of ammonia and methanol as fuel is a solution that looks to the future. This is an achievement that is part of RINA’s initiatives for energy transition and we are proud to be participating in this initiative that we believe will benefit the entire industry.”

SDARI, a member of the China State Shipbuilding Cooperation (CSSC), is one of the most important a prolific research and design institutes in China. It works in all phases of ship design, starting from feasibility studies to initial design, base and detail, through to construction.

“SDARI focuses a lot of Research & Development – notes Wang Gang Yi, vice president for SDARI – on designing increasingly efficient ships and studying the use of innovative and sustainable energy sources. We are determined to find design solutions that are increasingly effective and are happy to work with RINA on common goals, in order to reach the emission reduction objectives set by IMO for 2030 and 2050.”

MAN Energy Solutions supports clients in creating sustainable value in the transition towards a zero impact future. Facing the challenges of tomorrow in the maritime, energy and industrial industries, to improve the effectiveness and performance of the system.

“We want to support industrial partnerships – notes Brian Østergaard Sørensen, vice president and R&D manager for Two-Stroke Business belonging to MAN Energy Solutions Copenhagen – that favour the decarbonisation of maritime transport. For this reason, we are happy to work together with authoritative businesses like RINA and SDARI. In the near future we believe that the use of two stroke engine technology will continue in certain maritime contexts, but ammonia and methanol are fuels with an incredible “green” potential, and we can’t wait to be able to contribute with our skills in this project.”

Giuseppe Orrù

The first methanol and ammonia ship will be a tanker