In China, the Maritime Safety Administration of the PRC has released a sweeping set of technical rules for ammonia-fueled ships, detailing how the industry must build, inspect, and justify every aspect of a system that is both low-carbon and high-risk. The new framework, issued by China Classification Society, applies to newbuilds and retrofits and governs everything from tank placement to toxic zone ventilation.
Shipowners must submit detailed plans for review, including layout drawings, gas dispersion analyses, double-walled piping systems, airlocks, and exhaust routing. Inspection protocols span initial, annual, mid-term, and renewal surveys, with requirements for leak testing, ventilation performance, safety valve calibration, and emergency response drills. Failure to maintain safe conditions voids the ship’s certificate.
The rules embed risk control into design. Fuel tanks cannot sit near crew quarters. Piping must avoid living spaces. Gas fans must not spark. Supply systems must include automatic isolation valves, blowdown lines, and ammonia vapor recovery. Every leak path must be considered and mitigated. Water curtains, inert gas purges, and emergency ventilation are required across critical zones.
Ammonia may offer a zero-carbon burn, but China is treating it as a containment challenge first. If safety cannot be proved, the vessel does not sail.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
