A new CEN Workshop is being established to provide much-needed guidance for ammonia refuelling points and bunkering for ammonia fuelled vessels. The project’s vision is to capture industry best practices for the safe use and storage of ammonia as a marine fuel.
Bunkering is a vital process for the shipping industry as it ensures that marine vessels have sufficient fuel available to be able to complete their journeys. Traditionally, marine fuels have included petroleum-based residual and distillate oils. However, more recently, alternative “green” fuels such as ammonia are being used. Ammonia is an important substitute as it contributes to maritime decarbonisation and is in line with the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure (AFI) activities.
The proposed CEN Workshop will align with current EU legislation and policy while focussing on the specification of technical and operational requirements for ammonia refueling points and bunkering of ammonia-fueled maritime and inland waterway vessels. It is formed in response to the EU-funded project MOVE/B4/2021-696 and will distinguish between the different operational contexts applicable to the maritime and inland waterway sectors. It comes as a response to the lack of European guidance on the topic of ammonia bunkering and will likely foreshadow further European Standardization deliverables.
The Workshop plans to deliver a CEN Workshop Agreement detailing technical requirements for hardware and transfer systems, operational procedures, requirements for documentation (e.g. bunker delivery note), and training and qualification of personnel involved in relation to ammonia bunkering. Careful consideration will be given to how this CWA will support the interoperability and harmonised implementation of ammonia fuelling operations across European ports and waterways. CEN/TC 15, CEN/TC 282 and CEN/TC 268 are invited to be involved in this new work, their expertise linking the new topic of ammonia bunkering with existing standardization activities in the maritime, fuel and transport sectors.
The kick-off meeting for the Workshop is planned to take place remotely on 27 October 2026 from 2.00 pm. to 4.00 pm (CEST) (details in agenda document below).
All interested parties are invited to submit comments on the draft Project Plan using the commenting form below, to the Workshop secretary (NEN) Sophie Smit (sophie.smit@nen.nl) by October 21st, 2026.
For more technical details, please refer to the draft Project Plan, which contains all relevant information. Comments or observations can be submitted via the dedicated commenting form below.
Download the documents:
- Workshop description and draft Project Plan
- Agenda of the kick-off meeting
- Registration form to the kick-off meeting
- Commenting form
