The Viking Energy, an oil platform supply shipundergoing a pioneering retrofit to run on ammonia fuel, is now scheduled to begin operations in 2026—two years later than initially planned. Once completed, it will be the first vessel capable of operating full-time on ammonia, marking a major milestone in efforts to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the maritime industry.
IEEE Spectrum previously reported on ammonia as a potential replacement for petroleum fuels in the shipping industry in 2021, at which time key stakeholders—including Norwegian energy giant Equinor, technology provider Wärtsilä, and shipping company Eidesvik Offshore—expected the Viking Energy to set sail in 2024. However, progress has slowed.
Industry experts attribute the delay to the complex infrastructure required to handle ammonia safely. “Ammonia is toxic, explosive, and corrosive. We must use special piping, storage tanks, and trucks outfitted with materials engineered to be both leakproof and resistant to ammonia’s corrosive properties,” says John Prousalidis, a professor of marine engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. (Equinor, Wärtsilä, and Eidesvik Offshore did not respond to requests for comment.)
One of the biggest environmental concerns with ammonia-powered ships is the potential release of nitrogen oxides. “Instead of CO2, which contributes to global warming, we could end up with nitrogen oxides, which are lethal to breathe,” says Prousalidis. “To avoid simply swapping one pollutant for another, ammonia propulsion systems must include emissions-control technologies to prevent harmful nitrogen oxides from entering the atmosphere,” he adds.
A promising alternative to combustion engines is ammonia-powered fuel cells, which generate electricity without producing nitrogen oxide emissions. By avoiding combustion entirely, these fuel cells allow ammonia’s nitrogen content to remain in its inert form, eliminating a key health risk.
Ammonia Fuel Delays for Viking Energy
Despite the challenges, experts believe ammonia could become a mainstream maritime fuel—but not overnight. “Twenty or thirty years ago, the shipping industry made a major shift to natural gas, believing it was the fuel of the future. Now, we know it wasn’t the right step,” says Prousalidis.
Looking back at past fuel transitions, he noted that each shift—from steam to oil, and then to natural gas—took around 20 years to achieve full adoption. He expects a similar timeline for the adoption of ammonia or hydrogen. “We need to be patient while persisting in our efforts and not getting discouraged by early challenges.”
That perspective aligns with what Equinor’s vice president of renewable and low-carbon technology, Henriette Undrum, told IEEE Spectrum in 2021 when she urged the public to be patient: “We are not just solving one small problem for one ship. It’s part of the bigger picture. It will be a starting point to build up the market for…
Read full article: World’s First Ammonia-Fueled Ship Hits a Snag
The post “World’s First Ammonia-Fueled Ship Hits a Snag” by Willie D. Jones was published on 03/10/2025 by spectrum.ieee.org