Fortescue has completed Australia’s first green ammonia bunkering operation involving an ammonia-powered dry bulk carrier at Port Hedland in Western Australia, marking a significant milestone in the decarbonisation of iron ore shipping.
The operation saw the 300m Mineral Europa, described as the world’s first ammonia-powered dry bulk vessel, receive certified green ammonia from a bunker vessel before entering port to load Fortescue iron ore destined for customers in China.
Completed on November 2, the two-hour transfer was undertaken by Fortescue, Pilbara Ports and maritime group CMB.TECH, alongside regulators and operational teams.
The trial demonstrated how ammonia-powered commercial vessels could be refuelled within an operational bulk export port, establishing a potential pathway for wider adoption of lower-emission marine fuels.
Fortescue Metals chief executive officer (CEO) Dino Otranto said the development represented an important step towards changing the fuel used by the global shipping industry.
“Global shipping emits close to one billion tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, and the global merchant fleet comprises more than 100,000 vessels. Those emissions will keep increasing unless the industry changes the fuel it runs on,” Otranto said.
The transfer followed extensive safety preparations, including ammonia dispersion modelling, vessel compatibility assessments, emergency response planning and additional marine support arrangements.
According to Pilbara Ports, the operation proceeded only after all safety and operational requirements were satisfied.
The development builds on Fortescue’s earlier investment in the Green Pioneer, its dual-fuel ammonia-powered demonstration vessel, which has toured internationally to promote alternative marine fuels.
It was previously reported that the Green Pioneer was developed to demonstrate the potential of ammonia as a fuel for the shipping industry and encourage regulatory changes supporting its adoption.
“We built the Green Pioneer to show that ammonia can be used as a marine fuel,” Otranto said.
“This trial brings that work home to the Pilbara and marks a significant step towards bunkering Fortescue’s vessels with ammonia we produce here in Australia, using our own renewable energy.”
The milestone also follows Fortescue’s earlier agreement with Bocimar, part of CMB.TECH, to charter an ammonia-powered bulk carrier as part of its shipping decarbonisation strategy.
Beyond Mineral Europa, Fortescue charters another nine CMB.TECH vessels capable of being converted to ammonia propulsion in the future.
The latest trial builds on a ship-to-ship ammonia transfer conducted at Dampier in 2024 and supports Pilbara Ports’ ambitions to develop a clean fuel bunkering hub in the region.
Insights from the Port Hedland operation will now be reviewed to inform future bunkering activities and the broader Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub initiative.
With ammonia-powered shipping moving into commercial bulk transport, the trial provides Fortescue with another potential pathway to reduce emissions associated with transporting Australian iron ore to overseas markets.