VINSSEN powers world's first ammonia-fueled fuel cell tanker

VINSSEN has developed and delivered the high-performance fuel cell system that will power the vessel’s propulsion, cargo handling, and onboard energy systems

VINSSEN, a leading provider of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) solutions, has secured a central role in the development of the world’s first ammonia-fueled LR2 tanker to be powered entirely by fuel cells. This groundbreaking project utilizes ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, representing a transformative step toward zero-emission maritime propulsion.

This milestone follows the recent Approval in Principle (AIP) awarded by Bureau Veritas (BV) to MISC Berhad (MISC) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for their innovative vessel design. The AIP, granted under a Joint Development Project (JDP), affirms the technical viability of the ammonia-fueled concept and its compliance with international safety and regulatory standards.

As the project’s primary PEMFC technology partner, VINSSEN has developed and delivered the high-performance fuel cell system that will power the vessel’s propulsion, cargo handling, and onboard energy systems. For the 115K LR2 tanker’s power requirements, VINSSEN’s solution integrates six of its proprietary 2MW MEGA FC 2.0 modules, offering a scalable and modular architecture capable of meeting the diverse demands of large commercial vessels.

The vessel’s fuel system combines VINSSEN’s PEM fuel cells with an advanced Ammonia Cracking System (ACS) supplied by Panasia, which extracts hydrogen from ammonia to fuel the cells. This integrated design represents a major leap from previous maritime fuel cell applications, which were typically limited to smaller vessels or auxiliary power systems.

Beyond technological innovation, the project has also contributed to the establishment of new safety frameworks and regulatory guidelines, in close alignment with classification society standards. These advancements are expected to support broader industry adoption of clean ammonia-powered vessels.

"By leading the integration of PEM fuel cell systems into the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel, VINSSEN is setting a new benchmark for clean propulsion in commercial shipping,” said Chilhan Lee, CEO of VINSSEN. “This achievement reinforces our commitment to driving the maritime industry’s transition to zero-emission technologies, while ensuring safety, performance, and scalability for the future of global shipping.”