BW Offshore has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV for its blue ammonia FPSO concept, developed jointly with McDermott. The proposed floating production, storage and offloading unit would integrate ammonia production and export with onboard carbon capture.

The AiP follows an independent assessment of risks at the concept stage. It provides a foundation for subsequent engineering, certification and classification as the design develops.

In its technical overview published on 9 February 2026, BW Offshore outlined a unit designed to receive up to 3 million cubic metres of natural gas daily and produce more than 1 million tonnes of ammonia annually. Gas supplied from offshore facilities would first be converted into hydrogen and then into ammonia.

The production process would capture and compress up to 99% of the CO₂ it generates. The captured gas would be exported for geological storage or another approved use. BW Offshore estimates carbon intensity at around 0.5 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of ammonia, with options to reduce emissions further through the onboard power generation system.

Liquefied ammonia would be held in refrigerated tanks inside the hull before being transferred directly to gas carriers. This arrangement would avoid dedicated ammonia export pipelines and port terminals.

The concept targets offshore gas resources constrained by limited infrastructure. Positioning the unit near gas supplies and suitable CO₂ storage sites is intended to reduce reliance on land and onshore facilities.

Following the AiP, BW Offshore plans to work with oil and gas developers and other partners to advance the concept towards project execution.