Ammonia is being tested as a zero-carbon fuel for tugboats, with two notable demonstration projects completed in 2024 and 2025. A retrofitted US tug used an ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking system with fuel cells, while a Japanese tug burned ammonia directly in its engine, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 90%. Both show the technology can work. But the article flags serious practical barriers. Ammonia is toxic, corrosive, and requires careful handling and bunkering infrastructure that does not yet exist in most ports. Storage tanks are bulky, and crew safety protocols are still being developed. The author, a maritime researcher, argues the sector needs a reality check before treating ammonia as a near-term fleet solution. For anyone tracking marine decarbonization, this is a useful look at where ammonia stands today. The technical wins are real, but the operational and safety gaps are wide enough that LNG and methanol may remain more practical for the next decade.
