In The Netherlands at the Port of Rotterdam, OCI, Trammo, and James Fisher Fendercare completed the port’s first ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia—800 cubic meters at -33°C—marking a key step in preparing Europe’s largest bunker port to fuel ammonia-powered vessels expected to enter service by 2026 or 2027.
The two-and-a-half-hour operation took place at the APM terminal on Maasvlakte 2 and was coordinated under the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s safety framework, with oversight from the Rijnmond Safety Region, DCMR Environmental Protection Agency, and the Joint Fire Service. No ammonia was released during the transfer.
OCI supplied the ammonia and operated the terminal; Trammo coordinated the tankers; and James Fisher Fendercare handled transfer equipment. Victrol provided technical input during planning.
The port stated it aims to enable “the bunkering of all alternative low-carbon fuels in the future,” citing ammonia’s zero-carbon combustion as a driver of its preparations.
With this pilot, Rotterdam has advanced to level 7 on the international Port Readiness Level scale for ammonia, meaning safety procedures are now in place for limited commercial bunkering. The port currently supplies around 10 million tonnes of fuel annually and is positioning itself for a multi-fuel shipping future.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
