Port of Rotterdam Completes Successful Ammonia Bunkering Pilot

The Port of Rotterdam has successfully conducted its first ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering pilot, a significant milestone in preparing for vessels that will use ammonia as a fuel starting in 2026 or 2027. The operation involved transferring 800 cubic meters of liquid ammonia at -33°C between two ships over a duration of 2.5 hours at the Maasvlakte 2 APM terminal. This pilot demonstrated the safety of ammonia bunkering, confirming that the transfer can be executed without any environmental release of ammonia. Collaborating stakeholders included Trammo, OCI, and James Fisher Fendercare, with oversight from several safety and environmental agencies. The successful pilot raises the port's readiness for ammonia bunkering to level 7, allowing for future operations under established safety protocols. The port aims to facilitate the bunkering of alternative low-carbon fuels as part of the larger goal of decarbonizing the shipping industry.