HD Hyundai secures first approval for ammonia fuel safety systems

In Korea, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced it had secured the world’s first Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of Shipping for two proprietary safety technologies developed for ammonia-fueled vessels. The certification covers an ammonia discharge monitoring device and a toxic area zoning system, marking a major milestone in preparing ammonia propulsion for commercial use.

The discharge device, known as ADME, monitors the concentration of ammonia in wastewater and blocks overboard discharge unless levels remain within set limits. The safety zoning system, dubbed the Toxic Area Plan, maps out high-, medium-, and low-risk areas across the vessel to guide accident response and infrastructure design, especially in the event of ammonia leaks from onboard fuel and bunkering systems.

Ammonia has emerged as a promising zero-carbon marine fuel due to its high energy density and economic advantages, but its toxicity presents technical and regulatory challenges. With international safety standards still evolving, HD Hyundai’s preemptive move strengthens its position in the green shipbuilding race. The company called the achievement further proof of its capabilities and said it would continue to invest in next-generation fuel technologies to meet net-zero targets by 2050.

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