ABS Approves Hanwha Ocean Dual LNG and Ammonia Fuel System Design

Classification society American Bureau of Shipping has granted an Approval in Principle for an innovative marine fuel storage and delivery design developed by Hanwha Ocean. The certified engineering solution encompasses a multi-purpose fuel tank along with an integrated fuel gas supply system. This regulatory review confirms that the conceptual design meets core classification standards for maritime application.

The technical design is specifically developed for liquefied natural gas carriers seeking long-term fuel adaptability. Under the approved framework, an LNG carrier can transition its propulsion fuel source from LNG to ammonia. The approval establishes class-level verification for the dual-compatibility concept across the vessel's operational lifecycle.

A central component of the Hanwha Ocean solution is the avoidance of major structural replacements during fuel changeovers. Liquefied natural gas carriers utilizing this configuration will not be required to replace their installed fuel tanks when transitioning to ammonia. This approach removes a primary mechanical challenge associated with retrofitting deep-sea commercial vessels.

Additionally, the vessel's fuel gas supply system remains fully functional across both fuel types without requiring total replacement. Both the storage containment and the gas handling apparatus are engineered to manage both liquefied natural gas and ammonia. This single-system architecture provides a direct technical pathway between the two marine fuels.

The issuance of the Approval in Principle by the American Bureau of Shipping formalizes the technical feasibility of the system. Hanwha Ocean's design offers a standardized approach for gas carriers to adopt alternative fuel readiness. The classification milestone validates the design's multi-purpose containment and supply architecture for marine transportation.