Thursday witnessed a momentous event in the annals of container shipping, which reverberated with the promise of greener and more sustainable days for the maritime industry. The naming ceremony of the world’s first methanol-powered container ship, the Laura Maersk, took center stage, signifying a propulsion revolution that is poised to reshape the future of global shipping.

On the sidelines of the appointment ceremony yesterday, Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said that ammonia-powered ships are on the horizon, ushering in a new era of sustainable shipping.
Lauber expressed his belief that within five years, the world will witness the realization of this ambitious vision, which signals a remarkable shift towards green propulsion in the shipping industry.
Ammonia, a zero-carbon fuel, has long been touted as a potential game-changer in efforts to reduce emissions in the maritime sector. As international regulations become more stringent and pressure to decarbonise increases, ammonia-powered ships are emerging as a promising solution.
“I think we will take the next step with MAN Energy Solutions in five years. We will take emissions reductions to the next level as regulations show us a path to zero emissions by 2050,” said Lauber.
A successful burn-in was carried out on a MAN B&W 4T50ME-X two-stroke and produced positive results, with particularly promising data regarding pilot oil quantity and combustion stability, MAN said.
MAN ES emphasized that it generally expects to meet the delivery date for the first ammonia engine with subsequent operation on board a commercial vessel from around 2026. As such,
Launber expects MAN Energy Solutions to pave the way for a sustainable future in maritime transport.
“Perhaps five years from now,” he continued, “we’ll have a naming ceremony with an ammonia-powered ship. We’re on track, we’re ready, and it’s a team that’s going to make it happen.”
The maritime industry is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and adapt to global climate targets, including those set out in the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonisation strategy, which aims to 2050 to achieve a zero-emissions industry. Efficient and reliable
ammonia combustion engines are still under development, and optimizing them for marine use is a complex task. Scalability is another issue; ensuring a steady supply of ammonia to meet the demands of the global shipping fleet is a logistical challenge that must be solve.
In addition, safety issues related to the handling, transportation and storage of ammonia, a hazardous chemical, must be carefully managed to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of the crew and the environment.
In addition, there is a lack of normative rules and regulations for the handling of ammonia, which makes it difficult to plan for its introduction on board.