The Hamburg Port Authority and MB Energy have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering, officially declaring the Port of Hamburg “bunker ready” for the alternative marine fuel. Backed by MB Energy’s planned 600,000-tonne import terminal set to launch in 2029, the framework establishes the necessary operational foundation to safely bunker container ships, cruise liners, and RoRo vessels.
Hamburg | July 21, 2026 – In a major milestone for Northern Europe’s transition toward zero-emission shipping, the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and integrated energy company MB Energy have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and safety concept for ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia bunkering.
The achievement officially establishes the Port of Hamburg as “bunker ready” for ammonia fuel, putting the necessary regulatory and operational groundwork in place to safely handle and refuel next-generation vessels as commercial fleets enter service.
Developed over months of close collaboration between local maritime authorities, terminal operators, and vessel owners, the safety framework establishes standardized operational procedures and exclusion zones tailored to high-capacity maritime segments. These protocols specifically target container ships, cruise liners, RoRo, and ConRo vessels. While commercial bunkering remains pending the arrival of dual-fuel commercial ships, the completion of this risk framework ensures Northern Europe’s second-busiest port can safely execute transfers as soon as demand arises.
Shared Industry Perspectives
The dual announcement highlights the coordinated effort between public port authorities and private energy suppliers to align landside infrastructure with waterside regulatory clearance.
The Hamburg Port Authority emphasized that the milestone positions the port at the forefront of decarbonization across Northern Europe:
“Next step for the maritime energy transition: Hamburg becomes ‘bunker ready’ for ammonia. We expect ammonia to establish itself as an alternative marine fuel in the coming years. With our preparatory work, we are already creating the conditions to welcome the first ammonia-powered ships in Hamburg and to bunker them safely.“
“The import terminal for ammonia planned by MB Energy from 2029 will make a decisive contribution to ensuring the reliable availability of ammonia as a bunker fuel in northern German ports in the long term. The use of an ammonia bunker barge is considered a possible addition to the landside infrastructure to enable ship bunkering in the port and beyond.”
MB Energy, which is developing the landside supply network required to feed regional bunkering operations, underscored the long-term strategic importance of today’s groundwork:
“Hamburg is taking an important step towards the next phase of the maritime energy transition: becoming bunker-ready for ammonia. Together with HPA, we have completed a comprehensive risk analysis and developed a dedicated safety concept for ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering – laying the groundwork for the safe introduction of ammonia as a future marine fuel.“
“With our planned ammonia import terminal in Hamburg-Blumensand, MB Energy intends to provide the reliable landside supply infrastructure needed to support this transition across northern German ports. A safe, scalable maritime energy future starts with the groundwork we lay today.”
Infrastructure Foundations: The Blumensand Import Hub
To ensure a continuous, scalable supply of fuel for ship-to-ship operations, MB Energy is moving forward with its New Energy Gate project at its Blumensand tank terminal in the Port of Hamburg. Having received formal environmental permitting from Hamburg authorities earlier this year, the facility is slated to begin commercial operations in 2029 with an estimated annual throughput of 600,000 metric tons.
Key highlights of the operational framework and supporting supply chain include:
- Floating Supply Logistics: Floating delivery via dedicated ammonia bunker barges is being planned to supply vessels directly at berth or at anchorage.
- Comprehensive Vessel Coverage: Safety parameters cover operations across container carriers, cruise vessels, and roll-on/roll-off tonnage.
- Integrated Landside Hub: The Blumensand import terminal will feature a new cryogenic storage tank, upgraded berths for seagoing gas carriers and inland barges, and rail loading facilities.
- Hydrogen Economy Alignment: In addition to serving as a marine fuel hub, the terminal is designed to handle industrial feedstock and feed an onshore cracker plant to supply green hydrogen directly into Germany’s regional pipeline network.
By establishing clear safety guidelines alongside major landside import capacity, Hamburg has cemented its position as an early leader in the European alternative marine fuel market.
About MB Energy
Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Hamburg, MB Energy (formerly Mabanaft) is an independent, integrated energy company with operations spanning Europe, the United States, and Singapore. The group engages in the import, storage, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products, LPG, chemicals, and biofuels. Leveraging decades of operational experience and Hanseatic roots, MB Energy plays an active role in driving the global energy transition by developing and supplying future-oriented, low-carbon fuel alternatives, including green ammonia, eFuels, and hydrogen logistics infrastructure.
About the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA)
The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) is the central management body responsible for developing, maintaining, and future-proofing the infrastructure across the Port of Hamburg, Germany’s largest universal port and Europe’s third-busiest container hub. Powered by a team of over 1,800 employees, HPA oversees round-the-clock port development, land management, and navigational safety across a 7,200-hectare area. Guided by a mission to shape a sustainable maritime hub for generations to come, HPA prioritizes green port initiatives, shore-side electricity, and alternative fuel infrastructure to continuously reduce emissions and support Northern Europe’s energy transition.
Source: HPA | MB Energy