Australian Company Fortescue Leads the Way in Digital Fuel Certification for Ammonia-to-Ship Transfer

Australian green technology, energy, and metals company Fortescue have made history by participating in the issuance of the “world’s first” digital fuel certification for an ammonia-to-ship transfer.

The groundbreaking transaction took place in collaboration with Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2) and Trovio, involving Forstescue Green Pioneer, the first ocean-going dual-fuel ammonia-powered vessel, during a recent fuel transfer operation at the Port of Rotterdam.

The digital certificate was issued through Trovio’s CorTenX registry platform, which meticulously records supply chain data, including port and vessel details, transaction timestamps, and sustainability metrics related to the fuel.

This innovative certification provides transparent and auditable data on the sustainability attributes of the fuel, including its origin, handling, and transfer specifics.

Setting the Standard for Green Shipping

Jonas Moberg, CEO of GH2, emphasized the importance of capturing environmental attributes of fuels such as e-ammonia made from renewables, especially following the International Maritime Organization’s recent agreement on mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing for global shipping. He stated, “The recent pilot shows we are ready to record those attributes as soon as the fuels start being delivered to ships.”

Andrew Hoare, Head of Green Shipping at Fortescue, hailed the pilot as a key step in scaling the infrastructure for zero-emission fuels. He highlighted Fortescue’s commitment to transparency and traceability as the first company to complete an ammonia-to-ship fuel transfer with full digital certification.

Pioneering Ammonia as Marine Fuel

In March 2024, the Singapore-flagged Fortescue Green Pioneer made history by using ammonia as a marine fuel onboard an ammonia-powered vessel in Singapore. Subsequently, the vessel received flag approval from the Singapore Registry of Ships and the “Gas Fuelled Ammonia” notation from DNV classification society.

Fortescue’s partnership with Bocimar, a part of CMB.TECH, involves the charter of a dual-fuel Newcastlemax unit for transporting iron ore from Australia’s Pilbara region to China. The newbuild, currently under construction at China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

Fortescue continues to lead the way in green shipping and sustainable fuel solutions, marking a significant milestone in the maritime industry’s transition towards decarbonization.