Australian iron ore giant Fortescue has teamed up with a major maritime company to develop and trial an ammonia-powered vessel, a significant step towards zero-emission shipping.

The partnership will focus on designing, developing, and testing a large-scale vessel using green ammonia as its primary fuel, replacing traditional marine diesel, with an aim of cutting carbon emissions in global freight and logistics operations. The project is now in design and feasibility stages, with sea trials planned for 2025.

This project meets Fortescue's goal to decarbonize its mining operations and become a green energy leader. It is also in line with the company’s green hydrogen and green ammonia strategies. While the maritime partner’s name wasn’t disclosed, Fortescue confirmed that their collaboration combines expertise to deliver a zero-emissions shipping solution.