LR awards Approval in Principle to Seaspan Corporation for a next generation feeder with ammonia-powered propulsion

18.09.2024

TECHNOLOG’s  feeder design will build on phase 1 of this joint project, demonstrating an ammonia fuel propulsion system and optimised design

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to Seaspan Corporation for its innovative dual-fuel ammonia-powered next generation feeder ship design. The 3,100 TEU nominal vessel, measuring 198 m in length and developed by TECHNOLOG will burn ammonia in its two-stroke main propulsion engine.

The project expands on a previous AiP announced in May, for an LNG-powered vessel design of the same specifications and also designed by TECHNOLOG, that can transition to ammonia during its operational lifecycle.

Completion of the AiP process for the ammonia-powered feeder ship design underscores Seaspan’s commitment across the containership fleet, in this case addressing the intrinsic need to provide highly efficient and emission-compliant feeders well-suited to a wide range of key trades. By collaborating with TECHNOLOG  and LR, Seaspan has developed a solution to meet future market decarbonization demands which anticipates future challenges and opportunities in the maritime industry.

By completing the AiP process, Seaspan, TECHNOLOG  and Lloyd’s Register have laid the groundwork for future advancements in ammonia-powered feeder vessel technology in this rapidly evolving space.

Andy McKeran, Chief Commercial Officer at Lloyd’s Register, said: “The AiP awarded for the ammonia-powered feeder ship design demonstrates the company’s very real commitment to emissions savings and future technologies. It also showcases the continued and long-standing partnership between LR and Seaspan. The work builds on the already innovative Next Generation feeder design developed by TECHNOLOG , showcasing the efficiencies associated with building a ship optimised for ammonia fuel.”

Peter Jackson, Senior Vice President of Assets and Technology at Seaspan Corporation, said: “In this second phase, we have focused on ammonia as a next-generation fuel, considering safety, arrangement, and bunkering. Although ammonia has advantages, it also has challenges that need to be overcome so we can operate ammonia dual-fuelled ships safely and economically. Once again, we have partnered with LR and TECHNOLOG on this project as we seek creative and viable solutions to decarbonize shipping.

Dimitrios Panagopoulos, Vice President of Chartering and Business Development at Seaspan Corporation, said: “At Seaspan we are excited to introduce one more innovative vessel design, developed in collaboration with TECHNOLOG  and LR. This new vessel can burn ammonia, aligning with our commitment to sustainability while delivering unparalleled efficiency for our customers. By integrating cutting-edge technology with our customer-first approach, we ensure that our partners can meet the evolving demands of global shipping with a sustainable and reliable solution.

About Lloyd’s Register

Trusted maritime advisers, partnering with clients to drive performance across the ocean economy.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering and technology. With a heritage going back more than 260 years to the establishment of the world’s first marine classification society, LR is dedicated to setting and improving standards for the safety of ships.

LR is a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.

LR also provides advice, support and solutions on fleet performance, fleet optimisation and voyage optimisation, enhancing our clients’ digital capabilities. Their digital solutions are relied upon by more than 20,000 vessels.

In the race to zero emissions, LR’s research, technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.

Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education. 

Find out more lr.org.

About Seaspan Corporation

Seaspan is the world’s leading maritime asset-owner and operator focussed on long-term, fixed-rate leases to the world’s most prominent shipping lines. As of June 30, 2024, Seaspan’s operating fleet consisted of 217 vessels, pro forma for 41 undelivered newbuilds including PCTCs, with a total fleet capacity of approximately 2.3 million TEU on a fully delivered basis. For more information, visit seaspancorp.com. 

About TECHNOLOG

Based in Hamburg and Bremen and with about 25 employees, TECHNOLOG services GmbH is active in both maritime consulting and ship design. The service portfolio covers the areas of shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, outfitting and project management. Other core competencies of TECHNOLOG services GmbH include plan approval and building supervision, as well as the integration of external expertise for customer and requirement-oriented goal setting. Besides the services as ship designers, TECHNOLOG offers its consultancy services e.g. in fields of ESG-consulting in order to be able to offer our customers a comprehensive portfolio and thus make shipping more sustainable in its entirety.

TECHNOLOG gained vast know-how on future fuels and future proven designs through numerous projects. In the recent past, designs have been realised successfully with methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, battery systems or wind assisted propulsion system.

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