PORT Hedland has hosted Australia’s first transfer of green ammonia to an ammonia-powered bulk carrier, marking a significant milestone in the maritime sector’s push towards lower-emission shipping.
The operation saw the 300-metre Mineral Europa, described as the world's first ammonia-powered dry bulk vessel, receive certified green ammonia from a bunker vessel before entering Port Hedland to load iron ore bound for China. The vessel is chartered to Fortescue and will transport the miner’s product to customers in China.
According to Pilbara Ports, the trial is the first time green ammonia has been transferred to an ammonia-powered vessel in Australia and demonstrates a practical pathway for refuelling ammonia-fuelled ships in a live port environment. The initiative involved Pilbara Ports, Fortescue and CMB.TECH, working alongside regulators and operational teams.
Green ammonia, produced using renewable energy, contains no carbon and generates no carbon dioxide emissions when used as a marine fuel, offering a potential alternative to conventional bunker fuels.
The Port Hedland operation builds on the world-first ship-to-ship ammonia transfer completed at the Port of Dampier in 2024 and forms part of the Pilbara Ports Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub initiative, which is investigating the establishment of Australia’s first clean-fuel bunkering hub in the Pilbara.
Extensive planning underpinned the trial, including hazard assessments, ship-to-ship compatibility studies, ammonia dispersion modelling, emergency response planning and vessel vetting. Pilbara Ports said the operation proceeded only after all safety and operational requirements had been confirmed. The transfer itself was completed in two hours and was declared successful at 8.42am AWST on 2 November.
Pilbara Ports chief executive Samuel McSkimming said the trial demonstrated what could be achieved through collaboration between industry participants.
“Together with Fortescue and CMB.TECH, we have shown that ammonia bunkering can be safely planned and delivered in one of the world’s largest bulk export ports through rigorous preparation, strong partnerships and an unwavering focus on safety,” Mr McSkimming said.
Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto said the trial represented an important step towards developing an Australian green ammonia marine fuel supply chain.
“It demonstrates that green ammonia bunkering is not a future concept. Green ammonia can be bunkered safely, at scale at one of the world’s great bulk export ports,” Mr Otranto said.
CMB.TECH chief executive Alexander Saverys described the successful transfer as another milestone for the shipping industry’s decarbonisation efforts and said ammonia-powered vessels would become more common.
With shipping accounting for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the industry is increasingly examining alternative fuels to reduce its environmental footprint. Insights from the Port Hedland trial will now be reviewed to support future ammonia bunkering operations and the next stage of the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub project.