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Technical–Economic Analysis for Ammonia Ocean Transportation Using an Ammonia-Fueled Carrier

Author

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  • Youngkyun Seo

    (Offshore Industries R&BD Center, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, 1350, Geojebuk-ro, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si 53201, Republic of Korea)

  • Jiyoung An

    (Energy and Climate Policy Research Group, Division of Hydrogen Economy, Korea Energy Economics Institute, 405-11, Jongga-ro, Jung-gu, Ulsan 44543, Republic of Korea)

  • Eunyoung Park

    (Offshore Industries R&BD Center, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, 1350, Geojebuk-ro, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si 53201, Republic of Korea)

  • Jintae Kim

    (Offshore Industries R&BD Center, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, 1350, Geojebuk-ro, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si 53201, Republic of Korea)

  • Meangik Cho

    (Offshore Industries R&BD Center, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, 1350, Geojebuk-ro, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si 53201, Republic of Korea)

  • Seongjong Han

    (Offshore Industries R&BD Center, Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering, 1350, Geojebuk-ro, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje-si 53201, Republic of Korea)

  • Jinkwang Lee

    (Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, 48-54 Charyong-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon 51391, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

This study performed a technical–economic analysis for ship-based ammonia transportation to investigate the feasibility of international ammonia transportation. Ammonia is considered to be a vital hydrogen carrier, so the international trade in ammonia by ship will considerably increase in the future. This study proposed three scenarios for transporting ammonia from the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Australia to South Korea and employed an 84,000 m 3 class ammonia carrier. Not only traditional very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO)/marine diesel oil (MDO) but also LNG and ammonia fuels were considered as propulsion and power generation fuels in the carrier. A life-cycle cost (LCC) model consisting of capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) was employed for the cost estimation. The results showed that the transportation costs depend on the distance. The unit transportation cost from the USA to South Korea was approximately three times higher than that of Australia to South Korea. Ammonia fuel yielded the highest costs among the fuels investigated (VLSFO/MGO, LNG, and ammonia). When using ammonia fuel, the unit transportation cost was approximately twice that when using VLSFO/MDO. The fuel costs occupied the largest portion of the LCC. The unit transportation costs from Australia to South Korea were 23.6 USD/ton-NH3 for the LVSFO/MDO fuel case, 31.6 USD/ton-NH3 for the LNG fuel case, and 42.9 USD/ton-NH3 for the ammonia fuel case. This study also conducted a sensitivity analysis to investigate the influence of assumptions, including assumed parameters.

Suggested Citation

  • Youngkyun Seo & Jiyoung An & Eunyoung Park & Jintae Kim & Meangik Cho & Seongjong Han & Jinkwang Lee, 2024. "Technical–Economic Analysis for Ammonia Ocean Transportation Using an Ammonia-Fueled Carrier," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:827-:d:1321423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lewandowska-Bernat, Anna & Desideri, Umberto, 2018. "Opportunities of power-to-gas technology in different energy systems architectures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 57-67.
    2. Franco, Brais Armiño & Baptista, Patrícia & Neto, Rui Costa & Ganilha, Sofia, 2021. "Assessment of offloading pathways for wind-powered offshore hydrogen production: Energy and economic analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    3. Julia Hansson & Selma Brynolf & Erik Fridell & Mariliis Lehtveer, 2020. "The Potential Role of Ammonia as Marine Fuel—Based on Energy Systems Modeling and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jinyu Zou & Penghao Su & Chunchang Zhang, 2025. "A Comparison of the Cost-Effectiveness of Alternative Fuels for Shipping in Two GHG Pricing Mechanisms: Case Study of a 24,000 DWT Bulk Carrier," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Farhan Haider Joyo & Andrea Falasco & Daniele Groppi & Adriana Scarlet Sferra & Davide Astiaso Garcia, 2025. "Hydrogen and Ammonia Production and Transportation from Offshore Wind Farms: A Techno-Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-27, April.
    3. Evanthia Kostidi & Dimitrios Lyridis, 2025. "Customizable Life Cycle Cost Methodology for Ammonia Fuel Storage: Enhancing Adoptability Across Diverse Onboard Arrangements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Yanqi Liu & Yichao He & Junjie Liang & Yanlin Cao & Zhenming Liu & Chaojie Song & Neng Zhu, 2025. "Progress on Research and Application of Energy and Power Systems for Inland Waterway Vessels: A Case Study of the Yangtze River in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-29, August.

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