Recently, the Korean Register (KR) has formed a consortium with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), and other companies and institutions to establish marine safety discharge standards for toxic wastewater generated by ammonia-fueled ships.
Ammonia is an eco-friendly fuel that emits no greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide during combustion, making it a leading candidate for zero-carbon fuels in the future. It is particularly notable as the most cost-effective method for transporting hydrogen energy, as it can be easily converted into hydrogen through a simple process. However, the shipping industry has concerns about ammonia’s safety. Due to its high toxicity, the toxic wastewater produced by ammonia-fueled ships could pose safety and pollution risks to humans and marine life, necessitating specific safety standards. Currently, there are no clear regulations for treating ammonia-contaminated wastewater from wet scrubber systems, creating significant technical and operational uncertainties in ship design and navigation.
To address this, the newly formed consortium aims to develop international standards for the storage, treatment, and discharge of ammonia-contaminated wastewater from ships and formally submit them to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the Korean government.
The consortium’s establishment follows KR and the Korean government’s initial proposal to the IMO last year regarding the need for ammonia wastewater safety standards. This effort gained formal approval at the 83rd IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in April this year.
The consortium plans to submit a draft of the standards to the IMO next year and take a leading role in global maritime discussions.
Kim Kyung-fook, Vice President of KR, stated, “The formation of this consortium symbolizes the Korean shipbuilding and shipping industries coming together to leverage Korea’s advanced technological capabilities in shaping international safety standards. Moving forward, KR will continue collaborating with the government to support the development and international standardization of safety standards for alternative fuels.”
As early as 2021, KR released the *Ammonia-Fueled Ships Report*, which includes technical analyses of ammonia’s properties compared to other next-generation eco-friendly fuels like hydrogen, methanol, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with safety regulations and considerations for future ammonia-fueled ship development guidelines.
