Wärtsilä and Eidesvik Offshore to Convert ‘Viking Energy’ to Be the World’s First Ammonia-Fueled Vessel—Setting New Standards for Sustainable Shipping
Wärtsilä and the company Eidesvik Offshore will convert the offshorе platform supply vessel ‘Viking Energy’ into a vessel operating on ammonia: it will become the world’s first ship to run on this fuel. This is the most recent standard for low-carbon, sustainable shipping. The work should be completed by the middle of 2026 and will set new standards for sustainable shipping in support of global goals to reduce carbon emissions. Equinor is an energy company chartering the vessel and co-financing the conversion, and it is very aware that this partnership embodies a tangible commitment to emphasizing alternative fuels for the decarbonization of shipping.
In rapidly recent times, ammonia has emerged to be a promising agent of the new list of alternative marine fuels, as the shipping industry faces increased pressures to meet tough emission reduction thresholds. Proven by the International Maritime Organization as one of the key fuels in the roadmap for achieving net zero emissions by mid-century, ammonia holds a great capacity to slash the carbon footprint of the shipping sector considerably. Such measures, as a rec ent report by Wärtsil to. underlines, can reduce emissions by up to 27 %—sustainable fuels such as ammonia being key to eradicating this part of the remaining remarks—thus calling for innovation in fuel technology.
“Only in 25 years—the lifetime of one single vessel—shipping has to achieve net zero emissions,” commented Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä. “This will demand cooperative action by all the stakeholders in the maritime sector in order to push through the system change that is needed to enable a new generation of sustainable fuels.”
The cooperation between Wärtsilä, Eidesvik, and Equinor signals a broader ambition for the decarbonization of shipping through innovation. All the involved companies boast excellent records of pioneering low-emission technologies. To give just a few past examples: the world’s first LNG-powered offshore platform supply vessel and the first Battery Power notation, earned with the Viking Energy. This further brings on board the commitment with the ammonia to place this as the viable maritime fuel in this latest project, with the financial backing being the ‘Apollo’ one under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.
Wärtsilä plays a key role in the conversion by supplying its full ammonia solution, including engine technology, fuel gas supply system, and exhaust after-treatment. Key to making ammonia a commercially viable option for the maritime industry as a fuel is the successful deployment of those technologies. This project will also act as an important testbed for the scaling of ammonia fuel solutions to other vessels in the future.
“Continuous collaboration across the value chain is the key to success in the green transition,” says Gitte Gard Talmo, CEO & President of Eidesvik Offshore. “Eidesvik has a unique history of pioneering the implementation of innovative emission-reducing technologies, and we are proud to spearhead yet another ground-breaking project together with Wärtsilä and Equinor”.
The IMO aims to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels, with ambitious long-term goals of net-zero emissions. This goal can obviously not be reached without the use of high technology, strategic cooperation, and a paradigm move from traditional sources of energy. The Viking Energy project personifies this forward-thinking approach, combining the expertise and resources of multiple stakeholders to accelerate the development of new fuel technologies.
Ammonia is seen by many as a key part of the solution for decarbonizing the maritime sector. Unlike fossil fuels, ammonia emits no carbon dioxide when burned. Secondly, it is of high energy density, effectively stored, and, in liquid form, can be delivered, e.g., through shipping over long distances. On the other hand, ammonia is a hazardous material that needs special handling and advanced technology to ensure safe handling. Wärtsilä will be a key part in overcoming these barriers and proving that ammonia is a feasible, safe, and sustainable fuel for the marine industry.
The Viking Energy conversion project, therefore, carries much deeper significance than just a technological milestone: it is a statement of intent from the maritime industry. Against the 2050 deadline that keeps closing in, it is movements like this that are going to set the course for global shipping. This could be the killer app that drives widespread uptake of ammonia as marine fuel, providing a large-scale solution to one of the world’s most painful decarbonization probes.
As the Viking Energy is about to go on this transformational journey, Wärtsilä, Eidesvik, and Equinor pioneer the way into the green future with bolder, more committed innovation. They are leading this race, setting standards for others in the maritime industry toward international goals.