EU Funds Maersk Ammonia Tanker Retrofit Project
Maersk Tankers’ proposal to retrofit its Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs) for ammonia power has been selected for funding under the European Union’s Innovation Fund.
EU Innovation Fund Supports Project RIPPLE
The Danish tanker operator’s ammonia tanker retrofit project, known as Project RIPPLE, has been selected for financial support through EU shipping grants administered via the EU Innovation Fund. The initiative targets the installation of dual-fuel two-stroke engines capable of operating on ammonia fuel across vessels in Maersk Tankers’ expanding gas carrier fleet. According to European Commission project descriptions, the proposed conversion of four VLACs is expected to avoid over 1.2 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions over a ten-year operational period.
Ten-Carrier Fleet Provides Foundation for Transition
Maersk Tankers ordered a series of ten 93,000 cu m VLACs from South Korea’s HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, marking its re-entry into the gas carrier segment. The initial vessels in the series—including the Jane Maersk and Jessie Maersk—were delivered earlier this year. While all ten vessels were specified with technical capabilities to support future conversion, Project RIPPLE specifically addresses the installation of ammonia-capable propulsion systems in Denmark to advance maritime decarbonization goals.
Dual-fuel technology provides operational flexibility by allowing ships to burn conventional marine fuels alongside alternative marine fuels as supply infrastructure develops.
Commercial Commitments Underpin Implementation
Despite securing selection under the EU Innovation Fund’s latest round, Maersk Tankers stated that proceeding with the actual conversions remains conditional. The European Commission has invited project leads to begin grant agreement preparations to finalize budgets and legal frameworks, with final agreements expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Maersk Tankers emphasized that moving forward with retrofitting the dual-fuel engines will depend on securing firm commercial commitments from charterers and cargo customers. This requirement highlights a key challenge in adoption: shipowners require market demand and long-term customer backing to offset capital expenditure and ensure vessel energy efficiency improvements remain commercially viable.
For the broader shipping industry, Project RIPPLE represents one of the first proposed dual-fuel ammonia retrofits on Very Large Ammonia Carriers. Successful deployment could provide a operational blueprint for converting gas carriers to run on the very cargoes they transport, offering practical insights into safety frameworks, crew training, and engine performance for zero-carbon alternative marine fuels.
