According to their own statements, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and the company MB Energy have developed a risk analysis and safety concept for the ship-to-ship bunkering of ammonia in the Port of Hamburg. According to the HPA, this means the port will be "bunker ready" for the alternative fuel in the future. The preliminary work is intended to create the conditions for safely and reliably supplying ships in Hamburg with ammonia.
According to the participants, terminal operators, representatives of shipping companies, and local authorities were involved in developing the safety concept. The aim is to define the safety requirements for the future use of ammonia as a ship fuel.
Focus on container, cruise, and RoRo ships
The preparations for bunkering focus on container ships, cruise ships, as well as RoRo and ConRo ships. RoRo ships (Roll-on/Roll-off) transport rolling cargo such as vehicles, while ConRo ships combine this design with container transport. These types of ships are among the potential candidates that could switch to ammonia as fuel in the future.
Ammonia is increasingly being discussed in the shipping industry as a potential low-emission fuel. The industry is seeking alternatives to conventional marine fuels to achieve emission reduction targets. According to its own statements, the HPA expects ammonia to establish itself as an alternative maritime ship fuel in the coming years.
Import terminal planned in Hamburg-Blumensand from 2029
MB Energy is to provide the land-based supply infrastructure with the "New Energy Gate" project at the Blumensand tank farm in the Port of Hamburg. According to the company, the facility received environmental approval at the beginning of the year. Commercial operations are set to start in 2029. The planned annual throughput is 600,000 tons of ammonia.
The terminal is to include a new cryogenic storage tank, upgraded berths for seagoing gas tankers and inland vessels, as well as loading facilities for rail. In addition to its role as a ship fuel hub, the facility is also designed to handle industrial raw materials, according to MB Energy. An attached cracker plant is to extract green hydrogen from the ammonia and feed it into Germany's regional pipeline network.
As a supplement to the land-based infrastructure, the participants are also examining the use of an ammonia bunker barge. This would allow flexible bunkering of ships both within and beyond the Port of Hamburg.
Other ports are also preparing for ammonia
The preparations in Hamburg are part of broader efforts by ports, fuel suppliers, and shipping companies to build the necessary infrastructure for the maritime energy transition. Ammonia is considered a promising candidate because it can be transported as a hydrogen carrier and burned without CO2 emissions. However, special precautions are necessary for safe handling, as the substance is toxic.
With the completed risk analysis and safety concept, the Port of Hamburg sees itself capable of receiving and bunkering the first ammonia-powered ships as soon as they go into operation.
Background of HPA and MB Energy
The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has been responsible for the water and land infrastructure of the Port of Hamburg since 2005. Its tasks include port security, planning and execution of construction projects, and real estate management. With the smartPORT project, the authority aims to combine efficiency and environmental protection in port operations using digital technologies.
MB Energy, formerly Mabanaft, was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Hamburg. The company operates in Europe, the USA, and Singapore. Its business includes the import, storage, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), chemicals, and biofuels. According to its own statements, the company is increasingly committed to developing low-carbon fuel alternatives such as green ammonia, eFuels, and hydrogen logistics.
