The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has outlined its phased approach to advancing ammonia bunkering, highlighting work completed between 2023 and 2026 to address safety and operational challenges.

Speaking at the SDO@SCIC seminar during Singapore Maritime Week, GCMD’s director of projects, Edmond Ow, shared combined findings from the centre’s multi-stage effort and highlighted how the work is helping the sector move beyond analysis towards real-world execution.

GCMD had recognised early on that no single pilot would be enough to close all knowledge gaps around ammonia bunkering.

The first stage, completed in 2023, defined safety and operating envelopes for ammonia bunkering in Singapore. That work identified about 400 risks across different concepts and locations, all of which were assessed as low or capable of being mitigated.

A 2025 pilot in Pilbara then demonstrated ship-to-ship ammonia transfers between two gas carriers under live conditions. This confirmed the handling procedures, safety protocols, and emergency response measures for future fuelling activities.

The second stage, carried out in 2026, assessed transfer-specific risks in Singapore across the receiving ship, location and operating scenario. This led to a recommendation for a conservative safety zone with a 547-metre radius for transfers that occur once a year.

The findings from the work have already informed other pilots worldwide, contributed to the Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel’s ammonia bunkering guidelines, and supported the development of competency frameworks and safety training.

GCMD said the staged pathway is intended to methodically close critical gaps and support the eventual execution of ammonia bunkering for ammonia-fuelled ships.

As previously reported, GCMD has also highlighted how renewable energy could support shipping decarbonisation, alongside its work on practical fuel pathways such as ammonia bunkering.