MISC, SHI Receive Approval For World’s First Ammonia-fuelled LR2 Tanker

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- International maritime corporation MISC Bhd and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine and Offshore (BV) for the world’s first ammonia-fuelled Long Range 2 (LR2) tanker powered by proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology.

BV, a global leader in inspection, certification, and laboratory testing, aims to shape a world of trust by ensuring responsible progress.

In a statement today, MISC said the AiP confirms the technical feasibility of the concept as well as initial conformity with applicable rules, industry codes, and standards. The approval is part of a strategic joint development project involving MISC, SHI, and BV.

“This initiative focuses on the design and development of a large-scale commercial vessel that integrates PEMFC technology developed by Vinssen and an ammonia cracking system (ACS) engineered by Panasia Co Ltd.

“This breakthrough design will provide full-scale power for vessel propulsion, cargo handling, and onboard energy needs, surpassing previous applications, which have been limited to small vessels or auxiliary loads,” it said.

The maritime company added that the vessel has been developed to meet stringent International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations while delivering significant operational benefits, with key advantages including zero direct emissions, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and scalability.

MISC president and group chief executive officer Zahid Osman firmly believes that collaboration is the catalyst for maritime transformation.

“Through this partnership, the group is delivering progress by uniting industry leaders to realise a future where new technologies are deployed to address maritime’s greatest challenges: energy transition and decarbonisation.

“This AiP is the result of combining our strengths and challenging conventional boundaries to transform sustainability aspirations into tangible progress,” he said.

He noted that, together with SHI and BV, MISC is advancing a solution that will set a new standard for sustainable shipping and inspire greater industry-wide adoption of innovative solutions to help the maritime sector meet its net-zero ambitions.

According to MISC, in the joint development project, MISC serves as the ship owner and operator, leading vessel operations, commercial feasibility studies, and market adoption strategies. SHI contributes its shipbuilding expertise, overseeing vessel design, system integration, and engineering development.

“As the classification society, BV is responsible for ensuring regulatory compliance, conducting risk assessments, and granting the AiP if the vessel meets BV’s classification rules.

“This provides independent validation of the project’s technical feasibility and safety,” it added.

-- BERNAMA