Hanwha Ocean LNG to Ammonia Fuel System Gains ABS AIP | Mariner News

Hanwha Ocean has secured Approval in Principle (AIP) from ABS for a novel fuel system that allows existing or newbuild LNG carriers to transition from LNG to ammonia operation without replacing primary fuel equipment. This development, confirmed by ABS at Gastech 2026, offers a significant de-risking pathway for owners of gas carriers navigating future decarbonization mandates.

The approved system encompasses a multi-purpose fuel tank and an integrated fuel gas supply system. It is specifically designed for electrically propelled LNG carriers utilizing a gas turbine, providing the flexibility to supply either LNG or ammonia to the propulsion system. This capability ensures that vessels can adapt to future fuel availability and regulatory shifts without incurring the substantial costs and downtime associated with major equipment overhauls.

The AIP underscores a strategic move to future-proof LNG carrier designs, enabling shipowners to mitigate the risk of asset stranding as the industry progresses towards zero-emission fuels. The system’s design integration suggests a broader industry anticipation of a viable ammonia bunkering infrastructure and its adoption as a marine fuel in the coming years.

This latest AIP builds on prior collaborations between ABS and Hanwha Ocean, including a 2023 approval for an ammonia gas turbine propulsion system and a 2024 gas dispersion study for a 174,000 m3 LNG carrier equipped with such a turbine.