Ammonia Safety in Shipping

The document outlines the established safety protocols for transporting ammonia by sea and the necessary developments for its adoption as a marine fuel, emphasizing the management of its toxicity.

• Ammonia has a long history of industrial use, with the ammonia market estimated at approximately 178 million metric tons in 2021, 80% of which served the agriculture sector.
• The shipping industry possesses existing experience in ammonia handling because about 10% of global ammonia production is transported by sea.
• Toxicity is the primary safety hazard of ammonia, though it can be flammable under certain conditions. Safety measures for anhydrous ammonia transport include toxic vapour detection, protective clothing, and regular equipment maintenance.
• For ammonia to be viable as a marine fuel, vessels and onshore bunkering facilities must be purpose-built to minimize human contact and avoid additional risks to the environment or personnel.
• The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is currently developing safety guidelines for ammonia fuel on ships, while dual-fuel ships are in the design phase and marine engines are undergoing testing and validation.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Ammonia Safety in Shipping. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/27051012/CATF_AmmoniaSafetyShippingFactSheet_Proof_10.30.23-1.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Ammonia Safety in Shipping. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/27051012/CATF_AmmoniaSafetyShippingFactSheet_Proof_10.30.23-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Ammonia Safety in Shipping |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/27051012/CATF_AmmoniaSafetyShippingFactSheet_Proof_10.30.23-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendammonia, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Ammonia Safety in Shipping}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/27051012/CATF_AmmoniaSafetyShippingFactSheet_Proof_10.30.23-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }