In Norway, DNV reports as of August 2025, 39 ammonia-capable ships are on order and dual-fuel engines are entering commercial production, marking a sharp shift since 2020 when no such vessels were planned and engine technology was still conceptual. According to the DNV white paper, Ammonia in Shipping: Tracing the Emergence of a New Fuel, regulatory, technical, and infrastructure barriers to ammonia use as a marine fuel have significantly eased, with interim IMO guidelines in place, class rules published, and first shipboard demonstrations underway.
Ship types span bulk carriers, gas carriers, containerships, and offshore vessels, with main engines now offered by manufacturers including Everllence (formerly MAN), WinGD, and J-Eng. Wärtsilä’s ammonia-fueled 4-stroke engine has entered the market, and Fortescue’s Green Pioneer completed the first ocean-going ammonia bunkering in 2024. Ports in Singapore, Rotterdam, Yokohama, and Dalian have also conducted pilot transfers or approved bunkering infrastructure.
Fuel remains costly, with green ammonia trading around five times the price of marine gas oil, but EU carbon regulations and the IMO’s planned GHG pricing mechanism from 2027 may narrow the gap. DNV’s forecast highlights that while scaling remains dependent on policy support, technical readiness for early fleet deployment has arrived.
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Tags: ammonia, DNV
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
