SBM Offshore has received approval in principle from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) design focused on blue ammonia production.
The company stated in a media release on September 11 that its Blue Ammonia FPSO converts offshore natural gas into ammonia while capturing carbon dioxide through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology. The product will provide “decarbonized energy for the power and maritime transportation sectors, as well as serving the global ammonia market.”
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“We are seeing rapid innovation and new developments around ammonia as an alternative fuel, whether as a carrier of hydrogen or as a fuel in its own right,” ABS Senior Vice President, Global Offshore, Miguel Hernandez said. “ABS is proud to work with SBM Offshore on this project, sharing our deep insight into the safety challenges of ammonia, along with our extensive technical expertise on complex FPSOs.”
Olivier Icyk, SBM Offshore’s Chief Business Officer, called the design “a pivotal moment in SBM Offshore’s journey to decarbonize and diversify”, adding that it “exemplifies our TRUE BLUE TRANSITION strategy”. He said the company is leveraging its ocean infrastructure expertise to pioneer solutions for the energy transition, describing the concept as “a bold step into the blue economy, where we continue to unlock new markets and deliver sustainable value”.
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The blue ammonia FPSO is part of SBM Offshore’s broader strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. ABS confirmed that design reviews were conducted based on class and statutory requirements.
ABS noted that it remains the global classification leader in the FPSO market, providing what it described as “the most complete suite of technical guidance in the industry”.
ABS has supported FPSO development since classing the first unit in United States waters in 1978.
It awarded SBM Offshore’s Liza Unity FPSO with the SUSTAIN-2 notation, the first ever with the achievement. It builds on the SUSTAIN-1 notation, which Liza Unity received in 2021 for pollution control and waste management, by incorporating low-carbon fuel usage and human-centered design.
