14 October 2021

Firms embark on world first ammonia conversion project

Project aims to convert offshore supply vessel with an ammonia-fuelled combustion engine.

The Wärtsilä and Eidesvik personnel leading the ammonia conversion project. From left to right Jan Lodden; Chief Operation Officer, Eidesvik Offshore ASA, Hans-Petter Nesse, Managing Director, Wärtsilä Norway, Gitte Gard Talmo, Chief Commercial Officer, Eidesvik Offshore ASA and Cato Esperø, Head of Sales, Wärtsilä Norway. © Wärtsilä Corporation

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä and Norwegian ship owner Eidesvik Offshore ASA are collaborating to convert an offshore supply vessel (OSV) with an ammonia-fuelled combustion engine with a required fuel supply and safety system.

The firms say the project “will be the first of its kind ever in the world” with a provisional completion target by the end of 2023.

The OSV currently has Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines operating primarily with LNG fuel. The conversion will allow the vessel to operate with a 70% ammonia blend, an amount that Wärtsilä has already successfully laboratory tested.

Long term, it is hoped operation with 100 percent ammonia and with a minimum ignition fuel requirement can be achieved

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