ABS Approves Large Ammonia Bunkering Vessel Design

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday September 22, 2026

Classification society ABS has awarded approval in principle to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for a large ammonia bunkering vessel.

The 22,000 m3 vessel is designed to supply ammonia as a marine fuel, ABS said in a press release yesterday. 

The approval was announced at Gastech 2026 and follows a joint development project between the companies launched earlier this year.

ABS reviewed the vessel’s general arrangement, machinery arrangement, ammonia cargo handling system and fuel supply system against applicable class and international requirements.

“Bunkering infrastructure is a critical step for any marine fuel to scale, and it has to be implemented with safety designed in from the start,” Gareth Burton, Senior Vice President, Global Engineering at ABS, said.

The approval builds on work between ABS and the HD Hyundai group on ammonia-related technologies, including an ammonia cargo handling and bunkering system developed by HD KSOE.

ABS has also carried out an initial review of the machinery arrangement for HD HHI’s engine room.

Ryu Hong-Ryeul, CTO of HD HHI, said demand for ammonia bunkering vessels is expected to increase as more ships adopt ammonia as a marine fuel.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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