[Korean Register/ September 6, 2023] KR (Korean Register) granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a 200K CBM Class Ultra-Large Ammonia Carrier with Ammonia Fuel. The innovative vessel design, created by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), was unveiled at Gastech 2023 in Singapore on 6 September.

A joint development project (JDP) between KR and SHI resulted in the development of this ultra-large ammonia carrier featuring an ammonia fuel system. The carrier is a green ship designed to carry large quantities of ammonia, using the cargo as fuel, and has zero carbon dioxide emissions during operation.

Ammonia, known for its distinctive odor that aids quick leak detection is also relatively lightweight, allowing effective control of leaking gases. It also offers the benefit of low explosive properties. However, it presents certain challenges such as corrosive properties towards metals and toxicity, necessitating meticulous safety-focused design considerations.

In this project, SHI carried out the conceptual design of the fuel system and the basic design of the vessel, taking into account ammonia's unique characteristics. Additionally, SHI devised systems for fuel supply, ventilation, and gas monitoring tailored to the ammonia fuel system. The basic design was completed to meet classification rules to ensure the safety of the enlarged tank and hull.

KR verified the safety of the ammonia fuel system and supported the optimization of the tank and hull structure. The classification society also verified the design suitability of the ultra-large ammonia carrier by thoroughly reviewing domestic and international regulations.