Fuelling The Future Of Shipping

“This presents the greatest single opportunity for investors and shareholders that the world has seen in at least 100 years.”

Every second breath we take comes from the ocean. Shipping has a huge impact on this vital natural resource, but currently, the industry runs on fossil fuels that damage the marine environment.

As Dr Andrew Forrest explains, it’s time to transition to green fuels – and one bold project is already leading the charge.

Dr Forrest is Founder and Executive Chairman at global mining company Fortescue. After returning to university to earn a PhD in Marine Ecology, he was shocked by the extent to which the climate impacts ocean health. The private sector leader graduated convinced that “there is an absolute need to change”. From these shifting tides, the Green Pioneer was born.

The dual-fuel ship is the first of its kind. Since the vessel was purchased by Fortescue in 2022, two out of the four engines have been converted to run on a mix of ammonia and diesel. This technological breakthrough is spurring the sector to reimagine what’s possible.

Green ammonia is a carbon-free fuel produced largely with nitrogen and hydrogen – which we all breathe in on a daily basis. It could supercharge the shipping sector's path towards decarbonisation. Andrew Hoare, Fortescue’s Head of Marine Systems and Green Shipping, has confidence in green ammonia’s trajectory. Standing on the Green Pioneer’s deck, he says “It is the fuel that will be replacing the fossil fuel in shipping.”

The Green Pioneer is already demonstrating ammonia’s potential as a sustainable marine fuel. Now, policy and innovation across the supply chain are both needed to ensure that green fuel is welcome in ports worldwide. Making this vision a reality is going to require all hands on deck.

To learn more about the Green Pioneer, visit Fortescue’s website.