China achieved a historic milestone in the global shipping industry by conducting its first green ammonia bunkering operation on Tuesday at the Zhoushan port in Zhejiang province. This operation is considered a fundamental step towards transitioning to carbon-free maritime transport.
Bunkering Operation Details
In this operation, the "Shenghang Yongle" — the world's first liquid ammonia bunkering vessel — successfully transferred 1,000 tons of green ammonia to a 210,000-ton bulk carrier. After this operation, the bulk carrier will head towards the Pacific Ocean and Australia to begin its commercial journey.
Development of Green Ammonia Industry in China
This operation represents the first complete integration of the green ammonia supply chain as a marine fuel, encompassing production, storage, transportation, bunkering, and utilization. Li Jingwang, head of CEEC Hydrogen Energy Company, stated that this success signifies the transition of China's green ammonia industry from the "small-scale demonstration" phase to "commercial and normal operations."
The green ammonia used in this operation was entirely sourced from the "Qingqing No. 1" hydrogen energy industrial park located in Jilin province. This integrated project includes the production of green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol.
This achievement has occurred at a critical time for the global shipping sector. With the International Maritime Organization pushing towards greenhouse gas reduction targets, the demand for carbon-free alternative fuels is rapidly shifting from a political necessity to a market imperative.
Industry experts believe that green ammonia is one of the most significant carbon-free fuels for maritime transport. This fuel can be produced in bulk using wind, solar, water, and atmospheric energy, achieving near-zero carbon emissions throughout its life cycle.
This bunkering operation demonstrates that China now has the capability to produce green ammonia in bulk according to international standards and to build a trans-regional green energy supply chain. Li also highlighted the advantages of China's green ammonia in terms of environmental features, cost competitiveness, and the maturity of the supporting industrial chain.
This success provides valuable experiences for future stages, such as the establishment of ammonia storage tanks at the Panshan port in Liaoning province and the creation of a large commercial logistics system for direct marine supply.
