The Fortescue Green Pioneer has sailed from its base in Singapore to Dubai for COP28 with a strong message for delegates.
The company said the voyage is a symbol to the world of the technology solutions and regulatory changes needed to decarbonise shipping.
“At the moment the regulatory landscape does not allow for ammonia ships to operate,” Fortescue executive chairman and founder Andrew Forrest said.
“Now it is up to the world’s ports to insist that their logistics do not harbour those who seek to hide from their responsibility to turn away from pollution.”
Together with leading maritime engineers and innovators, Fortescue has spent the past 18 months developing the systems, processes and technology needed to safely run the Green Pioneer as a green ammonia dual-fuel ship.
But without regulatory approval, the vessel will not be carrying ammonia or demonstrating the use of ammonia as a fuel while in Dubai.
“Now that green ammonia is emerging as a bulk marine fuel, it is now the time of the great ports of the world to become capable of pollution-free shipping,” Forrest said.
“All administrations of good character will not use inaction and excuses to stand in the road of progress to decarbonise one of the world’s dirtiest industries.”
While it said the technological advances are encouraging, Fortescue aims to use COP28 to call on governments, port authorities, regulators, training institutions and development banks to ensure settings are in place for the use of ammonia as an alternative shipping fuel.
“I look to the leadership of the world’s ports to make clear that running the world’s global shipping on dirty bunker fuel has to stop, as we have a pollution free alternative,” Forrest said.
“This is seriously limiting the progress of the decarbonisation of shipping.”
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