Port Hedland Completes Australia's First Green Ammonia Bunkering Operation
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The Port of Port Hedland, in Western Australia, completed the country's first green ammonia bunkering operation. The certified fuel was transferred to the Mineral Europa, a 300-meter bulk carrier described as the world's first ammonia-powered bulk carrier, chartered by Fortescue to transport iron ore to customers in China.
How the operation was carried out
The ship-to-ship transfer took place on November 2, 2026, before the Mineral Europa entered the port to load iron ore. The process took two hours, and its successful completion was confirmed at 08:42 Australian Western Standard Time (AWST). The operation was carried out jointly by Pilbara Ports, Fortescue and CMB.TECH, in coordination with regulatory bodies and operational teams.
Safety measures
Since this took place within a fully operational port environment, the operation required extensive safety planning. Preparations included risk and hazard assessments, ship compatibility studies, ammonia dispersion modeling, emergency response planning, vessel inspections, and pilotage and towage arrangements. The transfer was carried out under controlled conditions, with defined weather and sea state limits, additional marine support, and vessel traffic management.
Statements and background
Samuel McSkimming, CEO of Pilbara Ports, stated that the trial demonstrated that ammonia bunkering can be planned and carried out safely at one of the world's largest bulk export ports. Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals, noted that the trial represents a step forward toward supplying the company's chartered vessels with ammonia produced in Australia from renewable energy, and warned that regulatory certainty and long-term fuel supply agreements will be needed to sustain the investment. For his part, Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, stated that shipping decarbonization is already underway and that the Mineral Europa is the first of many similar vessels that will join the fleet in the coming months and years.
The trial builds on the first ship-to-ship ammonia transfer carried out at the Port of Dampier in 2024 and is part of Pilbara Ports' plan to establish Australia's first clean fuels bunkering hub in the Pilbara region. The results of the operation at Port Hedland will be reviewed to guide future ammonia bunkering operations and the next stage of the hub's development.
