Italian shipping group Fratelli Cosulich is joining forces with compatriot classification society RINA and Singapore’s SeaTech Solutions to develop an ammonia bunkering vessel design.
As part of the joint development agreement, SeaTech would focus on the ship concept development and design while RINA would verify the compliance with the applicable rules, particularly those related to the handling of ammonia, according to a joint statement.
On the other side, Fratelli Cosulich Bunkers Singapore, a unit of the family-owned firm would provide the operational data to support and validate the suitability of the ship design for commercial operations, the statement said.
According to the partners, Ammonia is gaining traction as one of the potential zero-carbon fuels with owners placing “several ammonia dual-fueled newbuilding orders.”
“Having available bunkering facilities such as ammonia bunker tankers will be crucial to provide confidence to the shipping destiny to embrace the alternative fuel,” the statement said.
Fratelli Cosulich has earlier this year placed an order for one 5,300-dwt dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel at China’s CIMC SOE.
Besides the capacity to ship over 8,000 cbm of LNG, the vessel will also transport 500 cbm of MGO for bunkering.
In addition, shipbuilding sources told LNG Prime recently that Fratelli Cosulich should exercise an option for the second sister ship at CIMC SOE by the end of this year.
The Italian firm has plans for a third ship as well, the sources said.