EDF, together with Ricardo and the LR Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, released the Ammonia at Sea report in late 2022. Their analysis thoroughly explored everything currently known about ammonia’s behaviour in the aquatic environment, and assessed the potential impact of the use of ammonia as a marine fuel. Focusing on large-scale, acute spill events, this pioneering report gives us a better understanding of what to expect & prepare for in the event of a large-scale incident, as well as identifying the current knowledge gaps.
To discuss key conclusions & findings, Marie Cabbia Hubatova (Environmental Defense Fund), Samie Parkar (Lloyd’s Register), Steve Coates & Lauren Dawson (both Ricardo PLC) were joined in conversation by AEA Maritime Director Sofia Fürstenberg Stott.
0:00 Welcome and introduction from Sofia
4:42 Marie Hubatova: decarbonizing shipping, and the opportunities/challenges of ammonia fuel
12:20 Samie Parkar: modelling ammonia spills in water
22:43 Steve Coates: evaluating the environmental impact of ammonia fuel
(you can download the speaker slides here: bit.ly/3ks24Eg)
Q&A
31:05 The key message to policy-makers from the report
31:55 Improving the spill models
33:10 Gaps in current toxicity data (which is based on agricultural run-off etc.)
35:15 Are there specific marine habitats where the risk of ammonia fuel is simply too large?
37:25 Undertaking HAZIDs & HAZOPs for the risks of ammonia spills
39:00 Different storage tank types for onboard operations?
39:55 Different impacts for different spill scales, and how does ammonia compare to other marine fuels?
41:50 Ammonia combustion emissions
43:45 How to assess the impacts on global nitrogen cycles
44:50 Ammonia spill response plans? (similar to oil spill response plans)
46:30 Any historical large ammonia spills to provide data?
48:50 Regional-based environmental assessments likely?
50:23 Any initiatives proposed as a result of this report?
52:10 Chronic effects of elevated ammonia levels on marine life?
54:24 Given we don't have a century to work out all the details for the safe use of ammonia fuel (as we did with oil), and the pressure to immediately reduce emissions, how do you balance the huge build-out needed with the work needed to understand its impacts?
58:38 To progress the sustainable use of ammonia fuel, what is the most important thing that needs to happen next?
1:00:10 Wrap-up
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