LR Grants AiP For Floating Ammonia Cracker Unit To Power Onshore Hydrogen Supply

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) have received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register for a Floating Ammonia Cracker Unit (FACU), a new technology aimed at delivering hydrogen directly from offshore to onshore.

The FACU is designed to thermally decompose ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen onboard vessels, creating a direct and stable hydrogen supply chain without relying solely on land-based facilities.

The companies said this development is expected to support wider adoption of hydrogen energy and contribute to global decarbonisation goals.

The conceptual design of the unit has been completed, covering the process layout and general arrangement. Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (KBR) provided expertise for the ammonia cracking process and module design to strengthen the project.

The technology incorporates KBR’s H2ACT® process, which enables a single-train capacity of producing 1,000 tons of hydrogen per day. Additionally, U.S.-based Amogy Inc. supplied a new catalyst solution to further enhance performance.

The achievement was formally presented on September 9 at the Gastech Exhibition & Conference 2025 in Milan, Italy, one of the world’s largest international gatherings for the energy sector.

The floating ammonia cracker offers a practical solution in regions where it is difficult to construct large onshore facilities. The system works by receiving ammonia offshore, turning it into hydrogen onboard, and then delivering it to land, creating an efficient way to increase hydrogen supply.

Reference: MOL