Alfa Laval has achieved a significant milestone in maritime decarbonization by securing its first contract for the ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia. This contract emphasizes Alfa Laval’s commitment to developing innovative solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the shipping industry. The FCM Ammonia system is set to be installed on seven LPG/ammonia carriers for Tianjin Southwest Maritime, representing a vital step towards ammonia-powered shipping.
Installation of the FCM Ammonia will take place at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in China, starting with three vessels of 25,000 cubic meters, followed by four larger vessels of 41,000 cubic meters. Peter Sahlen, Head of Marine Separation, Fuel Supply System & Heat Transfer at Alfa Laval, stated that their experience with other fuels such as methanol and LPG has positioned them well to tackle ammonia as a fuel source. The successful contract comes after extensive collaborative development and testing carried out with Swiss engine designer WinGD.
In December 2024, they began comprehensive testing of the fuel supply system and its key components at WinGD’s Engine & Research Innovation Center in Switzerland. This collaboration is crucial to validate the ammonia release mitigation system’s performance across various engine loads. Sebastian Hensel, Vice President of Research & Development at WinGD, emphasized that their partnership with Alfa Laval has been essential in advancing clean fuel technology.
Their joint efforts reaffirm a shared commitment to a sustainable shipping future. Additionally, in December 2024, K Shipbuilding received Approval in Principle (AIP) from the American Bureau of Shipping for designing an ammonia dual-fuel MR1 tanker. This endeavor, involving Alfa Laval and WinGD, showcased the innovative integration of a combined vent treatment system.
The first FCM Ammonia unit is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2025, further strengthening Alfa Laval’s position in delivering comprehensive fuel solutions to the maritime sector.