Australia’s First Green Ammonia Bunkering at Port Hedland

First green ammonia bunkering in Australia

Hellenic Shipping News reported that Pilbara Ports, Fortescue and CMB.TECH transferred certified green ammonia to the ammonia-powered dry bulk carrier Mineral Europa at the Port of Port Hedland on Monday, 2 November 2026. The report described the operation as a significant step for low-emission shipping in Australia. The companies describe Mineral Europa as the first ammonia-powered dry bulk carrier. It received fuel from a bunker vessel before entering port to load iron ore.

The 300-metre Mineral Europa is on charter to Fortescue and will carry the company’s iron ore to customers in China. Green ammonia is produced with renewable energy. According to the announcement, it contains no carbon and generates zero carbon dioxide emissions when used as a marine fuel.

Pilbara Ports, Fortescue and CMB.TECH worked with regulators and operational teams to conduct the transfer in a live port environment. The parties built on a ship-to-ship ammonia transfer completed at the Port of Dampier in 2024. Pilbara Ports is examining the establishment of a clean fuel bunkering hub in the Pilbara region through its Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub vision.

Safety planning behind the trial

Before bunkering, the parties completed hazard and risk assessments, ship-to-ship compatibility studies, ammonia dispersion modelling, emergency response planning, vessel vetting, and pilotage and towage arrangements. They conducted the transfer within limits for weather and sea-state conditions, additional marine support, vessel traffic management and vessel readiness. The trial began once all safety and operational requirements had been confirmed.

The transfer took two hours. Its success was confirmed at 8.42am AWST on Monday, 2 November 2026.

Industry reaction

Pilbara Ports CEO Samuel McSkimming said the trial showed “what can be achieved when industry works together with a shared commitment to safety, innovation and decarbonisation.” He said it demonstrated that ammonia bunkering can be safely delivered at a major bulk export port.

Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto said the trial marked a step toward bunkering the company’s vessels with ammonia produced in Australia using its own renewable energy. He called for “policy certainty and long-term offtake” to advance green ammonia supply chains. CMB.TECH CEO Alexander Saverys said Mineral Europa “is the first vessel of its kind, but many more will follow in the months and years ahead.”

Fortescue charters nine other CMB.TECH vessels that could be converted to run on ammonia in future. The company has also used its Green Pioneer vessel to demonstrate ammonia-fuel technology internationally. Findings from the Port Hedland trial will be reviewed for future ammonia bunkering operations and the next phase of the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Hub initiative.