In September, Amogy Inc., an ammonia-to-power solution company, took delivery of the 105'x27'x13' tug NH3 Kraken. The steel-hulled tug was retrofitted with Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system and had its successful inaugural run on a tributary of the Hudson River, upstream from New York City.
Getting the first ammonia-powered vessel on the water signals a milestone in Amogy’s journey to zero-emissions shipping, as ammonia is predicted to become the leading fuel source for the world’s giant cargo ships by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency.
The retrofitting took place at Feeney Shipyard, Kingston, N.Y. SEAM was the electrical integrator. The tug was originally built in 1957 at Brooklyn-based Jakobson Shipyard and uses diesel generators and electric motors, with its ammonia-to-power system. The original tug was built for Virginia Railway Co.
Designed by Amogy and C-Job Naval Architects, Woodlands, Texas, the tug, which has a 13' draft, was not retrofitted for commercial use, but rather as a demonstration of the company’s ammonia to electric power system. The tug is now, technically, a recreational vessel.
Amogy officials said the demonstration is a step towards reducing global carbon emissions and moving the maritime industry closer to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of net-zero emissions by 2050. It proves both the viability of Amogy’s technology and the potential of ammonia as a carbon-free maritime fuel.
“Amogy’s NH3 Kraken is the world’s first successful demonstration of a carbon-free, ammonia-powered vessel,” Seonghoon Woo, CEO and co-founder of Amogy, told WorkBoat in an email following the demonstration. “This is a significant step towards reducing global carbon emissions and proves the viability of Amogy’s technology and ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free maritime fuel. I’m proud to be part of the team that has set out to help the world solve a massive problem.”
Amogy’s patented ammonia-to-electrical power system splits, or “cracks,” liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is then funneled into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power with zero carbon emissions. The technology offers a sustainable, clean energy solution, tailored for hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping, as well as stationary power generation applications. During the demonstration, the NH3 Kraken was fueled with green ammonia, produced entirely with renewable energy, the company said.
Main propulsion for the 259 gt-tug comes from a single RAMME Electric Machines’ SW860_M_750_B electric motor producing 750-kW of electrical power. The SW860 connects to a 2-bladed fixed propeller through a Farrel marine gear with a 4.13: reduction ratio, giving NH3 Kraken a running speed of 12 knots.
The controls are by SEAM and the steering system a WEG 02509ET3E326T-W22. The tug can accommodate up to 20 people.
Amogy plans to release a case study providing additional technical details in the coming months.
