10 May 2025, Norway: Yara Clean Ammonia, the world’s largest ammonia shipper, has teamed up with DNV and industry partners to shape new safety standards for ammonia-fueled vessels. This collaboration led to a Recommended Practice (RP) that outlines clear, unified guidelines for safe operations, crew training, and risk management at sea.
As the shipping industry accelerates toward net-zero, ammonia is emerging as a leading zero-carbon marine fuel. With more ammonia-fueled vessels entering the pipeline, ensuring safe operations at sea is now mission-critical.
Low-emission ammonia: A key to zero-emission shipping
Low-emission ammonia refers to ammonia (NH₃) produced with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, making it suitable for use in decarbonization efforts, particularly in industries like shipping.
Unlike conventional fuels, ammonia’s chemical profile requires specific handling and robust safety protocols. “Ammonia deserves respect, not fear — safety starts with understanding,” says Laurent Ruhlmann, HESQ VP at Yara Clean Ammonia.
DNV’s new Recommended Practice (RP) — developed with input from Yara and others — offers a clear framework for safe ammonia fuel handling, addressing crew training, emergency procedures, and risk management.
Addressing the competence gap
Despite its growing adoption, ammonia-specific crew training has lagged. With over 30 ammonia-fueled vessels on order, there’s an urgent need to develop targeted training programs — not just adaptations of LNG protocols.
“Maritime can draw on decades of safe ammonia handling from land-based operations,” Ruhlmann notes. “Transferring that know-how is key to decarbonizing safely.”
Real-world expertise behind the guidelines
Yara Clean Ammonia was a key contributor to the Recommended Practice, bringing deep operational insights from producing ammonia for over a century and managing 15 vessels and 18 global terminals. The company’s pioneering project, Yara Eyde, will be the world’s first ammonia-powered container vessel — a real-world demonstration of ammonia in action.
Scaling with safety
Global demand for ammonia fuel could double or triple by 2050. Safe scaling requires structured protocols, ammonia-specific risk assessments, and trained crews.
Safety must be built into vessel design, operations, and training from the start. Applying best practices from the chemical industry is vital.
DNV’s RP serves as a roadmap for training institutions, shipowners, and regulators to build standardized ammonia competence. Flag States can streamline approval processes by referencing the RP, avoiding case-by-case approaches.
Culture of prevention
The transition to ammonia requires a shift towards a risk-based approach, Ksenia Zakariyya, HESQ Manager at Yara Clean Ammonia says: “To ensure safe ship design and operations, dedicated risk assessments are essential for enhanced decision-making and definition of technical, operational, and organizational barriers to effectively control risks throughout the asset’s lifecycle”.
With structured training and strong safety culture, ammonia can be handled safely at sea. “Operators must implement tailored protocols, drills, and scenario-based training,” Zakariyya emphasizes. “Ammonia readiness must be built into daily operations.”
Ammonia’s role in the future of shipping
“Respect for ammonia as fuel begins with proactive safety,” says Ruhlmann. “By embedding best practices across the value chain, ammonia can become a cornerstone of maritime decarbonization — safely and at scale.”
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