The Korean Register (KR) has formed a joint working group with leading shipbuilders and research institutions to establish international standards for the safe discharge of toxic ammonia effluent from ammonia-fueled vessels.
With the growing interest in ammonia as a zero-carbon alternative fuel, concerns are mounting over its high toxicity and the absence of specific safety standards. At present, no formal guidelines exist for handling ammonia effluent from wet treatment systems onboard, posing technical challenges and regulatory uncertainty for ship design and operations.
To tackle this gap, KR has brought together several of Korea’s major shipbuilders—HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Hanwha Ocean—alongside the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), a key national certification body.
The working group aims to develop new international standards covering the storage, treatment, and discharge of ammonia effluent. Once finalized, the group plans to submit the proposed guidelines to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the Korean government.
This initiative builds on a proposal submitted by KR and the Korean government in 2024, which called for global guidelines on ammonia effluent management. That proposal was approved earlier this year during the 83rd session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), opening the door for formal standard-setting. The working group intends to present a full draft to the IMO in 2026, helping to shape the regulatory framework around ammonia-fueled vessels.
Industry leaders emphasized the significance of this collaboration for Korea’s maritime competitiveness and the broader adoption of ammonia as a marine fuel.
“We’re committed to providing robust scientific data to support global standards for ammonia effluent,” said KIM Taesung, Director General at KTR. “This will help strengthen the international standing of Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping sectors.”
PARK Sangmin, Senior Vice President of HD KSOE’s Green Energy Research Lab, noted, “This group will act as a catalyst for advancing safety standards. HD Hyundai will continue to lead the market, drawing on our experience building the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel.”
Samsung Heavy Industries Director LEE Hoki added, “This effort will lay the groundwork for scaling up ammonia as a viable fuel source. SHI remains committed to cooperation and innovation in clean ship technologies.”
