“That’s no yacht!” Fortescue celebrates Australia-first green ammonia bunkering of very big iron ore ship

In an Australian first, green ammonia has successfully been transferred – or bunkered – to the Fortescue-chartered ship the Mineral Europa, the world’s first ammonia-powered dry bulk vessel, before it headed to the port to be loaded with iron ore.

Though described as a trial by both Pilbara Ports and Fortescue, the successful offshore bunkering is being hailed as a “significant step towards “new chapter” for green shipping – and a filip for Twiggy Forest’s target of “real zero” emissions for his mining behemoth.

“This is a significant step towards bunkering our vessels with ammonia we produce here, using our own renewable energy,” Fortescue said on LinkedIn on Wednesday.

“Working with Pilbara Ports and CMB.TECH, we’ve now shown how a major export port can help power the next era of global shipping.”

In its own press release, Pilbara Ports said the effort had been underpinned by extensive planning and risk management, including hazard and risk assessments, ship-to-ship compatibility studies, emergency response planning, pilotage and towage arrangements, and dedicated procedures for safe execution of the transfer.

“The transfer was conducted within a controlled framework taking into account weather and sea-state operating limits, additional marine support, vessel traffic management measures and vessel readiness requirements,” a statement said.

A Pilbara Ports spokesperson told Renew Economy that “The green ammonia used in the Port Hedland bunkering trial was sourced from China and supplied through CMB.Tech, one of the key project partners involved in delivering this milestone operation.

“Green ammonia is not yet commercially produced in the Pilbara at the scale required for an operation like this. It was important that the trial used green ammonia because the purpose was to demonstrate the complete bunkering pathway using the type of low-emission marine fuel we ultimately want to enable. As the industry develops, there is significant potential for green ammonia to be produced here in the Pilbara.”

“This successful trial shows what can be achieved when industry works together with a shared commitment to safety, innovation and decarbonisation,” said Samuel McSkimming, CEO of Pilbara Ports.

“Together with Fortescue and CMB.Tech, we have shown that ammonia bunkering can be safely planned and delivered in one of the world’s largest bulk export ports through rigorous preparation, strong partnerships and an unwavering focus on safety.”

The 300-metre Mineral Europa will now carry Fortescue iron ore to customers in China.

The successful trial is likely to only be the first for the partnership between Fortescue and CMB.Tech. Fortescue currently charters another nine CMB.Tech vessels that can all be converted to run on ammonia in the future.”

In separate posts, Forrest sung the praises of the company’s Green Pioneer prototype, which he says has proven ammonia as a marine fuel around the world – including most recently in Antigua, where King Charles joined Twiggy for a tour of the vessel.

“Call our Green Pioneer a yacht? Yeah, right,” another post said.

“Before we converted her to run on ammonia as a dual-fuel vessel, she was a diesel-electric offshore supply vessel – built for hard work, not leisure.

“Now she’s helping prove ammonia can power ships, taking the technology from ambition to reality.

“That’s no yacht. She’s helping chart a new course for global shipping.”

The Port Hedland trial is also expected to deliver insights to inform future ammonia bunkering operations and support the next phase of the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub initiative.

“Global shipping emits close to one billion tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, and the global merchant fleet comprises more than 100,000 vessels. Those emissions will keep increasing unless the industry changes the fuel it runs on,” Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto said on Tuesday in a statement.

“Fortescue has been working to make that change possible. We built the Green Pioneer to show that ammonia can be used as a marine fuel. We’ve taken it around the world to demonstrate what’s possible and make the case for stronger international rules to cut shipping greenhouse gas emissions.

“This trial brings that work home to the Pilbara,” Otranto said. “It demonstrates that green ammonia bunkering is not a future concept.

“Green ammonia can be bunkered safely, at scale at one of the world’s great bulk export ports, addressing a concern that has held the industry back for years.

“Industry has moved ahead of regulation to prove the technology. What’s needed now is policy certainty and long-term offtake to unlock demand, de-risk investment and move green ammonia projects forward, building the full supply chain from renewables all the way to the ship’s tank.”

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