SBM Offshore has achieved a key milestone in its energy-transition roadmap: its floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) design for blue ammonia has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from ABS, the global classification society.
The concept envisions converting natural gas extracted offshore into ammonia, while capturing CO₂ emissions using Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) technology. The production of blue ammonia through this scheme aims to supply cleaner energy for power generation, the maritime sector, and the broader ammonia market.
Olivier Icyk, SBM Offshore’s Chief Business Officer, stated that this FPSO concept marks a “pivotal moment” in their TRUE. BLUE. TRANSITION strategy, showcasing a shift toward new offshore solutions to meet net-zero goals by 2050.
On the ABS side, Miguel Hernandez, Senior Vice President for Global Offshore, highlighted the collaboration on safety-critical issues related to ammonia handling, recognizing the technical challenges involved in such floating facilities.
The design review by ABS was based on both class and statutory requirements, suggesting that while this is not a final certification, key technical and regulatory safety criteria have been considered and met in principle.
