Germany’s MAN Energy Solutions has said that it will offer ammonia-powered ship engines to its clients in a general sense from 2027, with delivery of its first such engine due at the end of the year for a vessel in Japan.

MAN Energy Solutions CEO Uwe Lauber told Reuters that the first engine will undergo trials for one to two years, while at the same time fuel supply, bunkering infrastructure and safety standards are developed so as to enable a more general market, with cooperation with port authorities at major destinations essential. In addition, Mr Lauber said, a “lot of work needs to be done also on safety devices with the classification societies. There are no rules today available on how to design an ammonia system on a ship.”

MAN is also working on engines that will be able to burn 100% biofuel, and estimates that between 3,000 and 5,000 of the 20,000 ships that use MAN engines will be able to be retrofitted to run on alternative fuels at a conversion cost per ship estimated at US$25-50 million. The company opened a major workshop in Singapore at the start of March, its largest outside of Europe.