Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha have secured Japanese government grant backing for a Singapore-based ammonia bunkering demonstration project, according to a joint press release by the three companies.
The project, selected under Japan’s FY2024 supplementary budget programme for large-scale initiatives in ASEAN, will see Sumitomo act as coordinator for a trial aimed at enabling commercial-scale use of ammonia as a marine fuel.
The partners plan to conduct ship-to-ship ammonia transfers using a bunkering vessel compliant with Singapore regulatory requirements, marking their first joint ammonia bunkering demonstration.
The programme targets the core barrier to commercial rollout: establishing safety standards and operational procedures for handling ammonia as a fuel.
The companies said ammonia’s toxicity requires strict controls, specialised equipment and internationally aligned rules before wider deployment can proceed.
Global ammonia trade stands at about 20m tonnes annually, largely tied to fertiliser and chemical demand, with maritime transport already relying on ship-to-ship transfers between ammonia carriers.
Extending this to fuel supply introduces additional operational and safety complexity.
The Singapore location underpins the project’s commercial relevance. As the world’s largest bunkering hub, the port offers established infrastructure and operational depth to test supply systems, risk management frameworks and environmental and safety performance under real conditions.
Feasibility work will focus on supply infrastructure, operating procedures and risk mitigation, with the outcome intended to support the transition to commercially viable ammonia bunkering services.
Sumitomo Corporation is a Japanese integrated trading and business investment company engaged in a wide range of industrial sectors, including energy, metals, infrastructure and transportation systems.
Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. is a Japanese shipping company providing ocean transport services across dry bulk, energy resources and car carrier segments, along with related maritime solutions.
Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha is a Japanese shipping and logistics company offering ocean, air and land transport services as well as logistics and terminal operations across global supply chains.