Amogy’s ammonia-powered tugboat nears completion

Amogy, a zero-emission energy systems provider, is nearing the completion of its pioneering 32m ammonia-powered tugboat, the NH3 Kraken following a renaming ceremony held recently. The 67 year old tugboat is expected to complete its maiden voyage on a tributary of the Hudson River within the coming months, following which Amogy plans to advance towards product commercialisation.

Amogy CEO Seonghoon Woo led the traditional renaming ceremony. “Today’s ceremony marks a significant moment as we edge closer to making maritime history and transforming one of the world’s oldest industries. The retrofit of the NH3 Kraken is nearing completion, and, soon, we will celebrate not just validation of our proprietary technology in maritime vessels, but also the beginning of a new era. This venture allows us the extraordinary opportunity to forge a greener future for generations to come.”

The work on the NH3 Kraken has been a significant process. The original hull form was maintained and the main deck now has a forward bunkering station, a pilot house and reconstructed deck house with control room, where data is to be collected and safe operation maintained. 

The tugboat's original diesel generators and electric motors were removed and a specific new space requirement was identified for the ammonia powerpack. This powerpack is composed of a reactor, which cracks the ammonia to nitrogen and hydrogen, then an absorber, which removes any residual ammonia from the stream. Following this is the fuel cell module, a low temp PEM which consumes the hydrogen fuel, converting it to electrical energy & water.

The ammonia tank, supplied by Vector Systems, is located in the ammonia tank room  which is the furthest forward on the vessel and classified as a hazardous zone with an airlock. Aft to this room is the Amogy powerpack room, which includes cooling water pumps, scrubbers, and more. The electrical drive components and switchboards, supplied by SEAM, are located further aft. There are also batteries installed for backup redundancy and peak shaving.

Per Amogy, the NH3 Kraken’s successful maiden voyage will offer clear evidence of ammonia’s use as a primary fuel in new builds or retrofitted vessels — advancing maritime’s goals of decreased emissions while able to generate five times the energy density of lithium batteries via this process. The project is their first on-water application for ammonia-to-power technology — which has previously been tested on an aerial drone (5 kW), tractor (100 kW) and semi truck (300 kW). 

The successful conversion of the NH3 Kraken sets a precedent for the ship repair and retrofit industry, signaling a shift towards ammonia as a viable alternative fuel. For shipyards, the ammonia retrofit market offers both challenges and opportunities. As more shipowners explore alternative fuels to comply with environmental regulations, shipyards that develop expertise in ammonia conversions will be well-positioned to capitalise on this emerging market, leading the way in the next generation of sustainable maritime operations.