Engineering consultancy Ricardo has finalized its FASTMOVE feasibility study on using ammonia as a 4-stroke marine fuel, delivering a validated 200-bar high-pressure dual-fuel combustion design and critical safety frameworks for port bunkering. Funded by the UK SHORE initiative alongside partners like the Port of Cromarty Firth, the study establishes a technical blueprint for physical single-cylinder engine testing to advance zero-carbon offshore vessel propulsion.
London | July 8, 2026 – Global engineering and environmental consultancy Ricardo has successfully finalized its comprehensive feasibility study into utilizing ammonia as a sustainable alternative fuel for the maritime sector. The study, completed under the auspices of the UK’s FASTMOVE project (Feasibility of Ammonia 4-STroke Marine engines in Offshore VEssels), delivers a validated concept combustion system design and advanced injection data. The outcomes provide a crucial technical blueprint for the next phase of zero-carbon and low-emission internal combustion engine development.
Executed in partnership with the Brunel University of London and the Port of Cromarty Firth, the consortium aimed to establish a technical foundation for ammonia-fueled 4-stroke marine engines, specifically targeting the decarbonization of offshore support vessels (OSVs) and localized port ecosystems.
High-Pressure Dual-Fuel Engine Innovation
Ammonia ($NH_3$) is widely considered a frontrunner for long-distance and heavy-duty maritime transport due to its lack of carbon atoms. However, its low flame speed, high ignition energy, and toxicity present formidable engineering challenges.
To overcome these barriers, Ricardo’s engineering team focused on creating robust High-Pressure Dual-Fuel (HPDF) combustion architectures. The technical scope of the project delivered several key milestones:
- High-Pressure Injection Testing: Captured critical, real-world experimental data for ammonia injection at pressures reaching 200 bar.
- Advanced Computational Modeling: Utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to map, validate, and optimize ammonia spray behaviors.
- Combustion Optimization: Formulated three distinct HPDF combustion system concepts. The most viable configuration was subjected to rigorous localized modeling to optimize ignition parameters and refine emissions predictions, specifically targeting the mitigation of nitrous oxide (N2O) and unburnt ammonia slip.
The validated data will now serve as the structural framework for developing a physical Single Cylinder Engine (SCE) to empirically test and verify the combustion processes under real-world operating conditions.
Safety and Bunkering Infrastructure Frameworks
A core component of the FASTMOVE project was addressing the severe toxicity and handling challenges associated with marine ammonia logistics. Operating as a parallel workstream, Ricardo mapped out stringent safety and regulatory risk profiles covering the entire supply chain.
The safety assessment directly evaluated the infrastructure required for:
- In-Port Storage: Assessing technological requirements and risk zones at the Port of Cromarty Firth.
- Bunkering Operations: Modeling fuel transfer safety protocols between terminal infrastructure and vessels.
- On-Board Storage: Defining fuel containment, ventilation, and emergency mitigation systems specifically for the confined footprints of offshore vessels.
Funded by UK SHORE
The FASTMOVE consortium is funded via UK SHORE (UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions), a Department for Transport initiative tasked with transitioning the UK’s maritime sector to net-zero. Since 2022, UK SHORE has deployed over £230 million across 247 projects, leveraging an additional £107 million in private sector capital. The program is administered via Innovate UK.
Commenting on the completion of the study, Richard Osborne, Ricardo’s Global Technical Expert in Sustainable Engines, stated:
“We’re delighted to have led on this project, which will act as a case study to help determine whether ammonia offers a more sustainable solution for the maritime sector. The outcomes will be used to understand the feasibility of developing a single cylinder engine (SCE) to further verify combustion processes. We will also consider potential commercialisation of this technology and the use of ammonia in the future, subject to further studies being undertaken.“
About Ricardo
Founded in 1915 by Sir Harry Ricardo, Ricardo is a premier engineering, testing, and niche manufacturing consultancy now operating as a member of WSP. Grounded in a century-long legacy of maximizing efficiency and eliminating waste, the company delivers end-to-end lifecycle capabilities across the automotive, maritime, aerospace, and energy sectors. With a global team of over 1,000 professionals managing more than 200 simultaneous projects annually, Ricardo leverages its technology-agnostic expertise and robust IP protection to accelerate innovation, de-risk delivery, and provide clients with a faster, reliable route to market.
Source: Ricardo