China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co., Ltd. (CHIMBUSCO) has successfully completed China’s first liquid ammonia bunkering operation for an ammonia-fueled merchant vessel, marking a major step in the country’s application of zero-carbon marine fuels.

Given ammonia’s toxicity, volatility and handling requirements, the operation involved 12 critical procedures, including hazardous-material road transportation, ship-shore interface coordination, fuel transfer and gas-liquid balancing.

With no mature domestic operating standard previously available, CHIMBUSCO completed the operation following 210 days of technical development and preparation.

CHIMBUSCO has already established bunkering capabilities covering LNG, green methanol and other clean marine fuels. The addition of liquid ammonia further expands its alternative-fuel bunkering portfolio and supports the future commercial operation of ammonia-powered vessels.