The initiative for this pilot was taken by Color Line. Although the company today has a modern fleet, including Color Hybrid, which is the world’s largest plug-in diesel-electric cruise ferry, further measures and new solutions are needed if the company is to meet both international and national emission reduction requirements by 2030.
Ammonia may be a possible future fuel for shipping. It is also possibly the most promising, well-known alternative for achieving climate-neutral shipping. The assumption is that ammonia is produced in a climate neutral way.
Ammonia does not contain carbon and does not emit CO2, but ammonia represents other challenges. The substance is toxic and corrosive. Risk analysis and cost-benefit assessments for possible solutions and future use will be key challenges.
The goal of this pilot is to conduct a technical and economic study to examine the challenges and possibilities of using ammonia as fuel – in whole or in part – on at least one of Color Line’s existing vessels.
Status
The pilot was launched in December 2019. The work – to shed light on potential barriers, such as the environmental footprint, security aspects, technological solutions, costs and possible private and public financing solutions – is complete. The pilot studie could not identify any incomprehensible technical or safety barriers. The pilot is under assessment for realization. The pilot has also launched an activity that will develop a publicly available handbook for the use of ammonia as a maritime fuel.