OCI, VICTROL to develop ammonia bunkering chain

OCI Global and VICTROL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a safe, scalable and commercially viable supply chain for clean ammonia bunkering in the Netherlands and Belgium.

OCI, VICTROL to develop ammonia bunkering chain

This strategic collaboration marks an important step in accelerating the decarbonisation of the maritime industry.

OCI’s subsidiary, OCI Ammonia Distribution B.V., will lead the sourcing and import of clean ammonia – both blue and green – from key global production hubs in the US, Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.

The molecules will be transported by sea-going vessels to the OCI Terminal Europoort (OTE) ammonia import terminal in the Port of Rotterdam, where they will be safely stored, distributed, and made available for use as marine fuel.

OCI is concurrently building partnerships with a growing network of shipowners and end-users who will adopt ammonia as a clean fuel for their fleets.

VICTROL will design, build, and operate a liquid ammonia bunker barge. This critical piece of infrastructure will load refrigerated ammonia at OCI’s terminal and deliver it directly to ships in the ports, as well as to inland industrial off-takers.

With decades of expertise in barging and bunkering operations, VICTROL will ensure safe and reliable last-mile delivery to vessels that will consume ammonia as a low- or zero-carbon fuel.

Through OTE, OCI owns and operates the only independent large-scale ammonia import terminal in the Port of Rotterdam.

The port’s strategic location allows for seamless connection between overseas supply and European demand, enabling the continent to adequately address its anticipated future hydrogen deficit.

With permits in place to expand OTE’s storage capacity from 30,000 metric tonnes to 90,000 metric tonnes and throughput up to 2 million tonnes per year in line with increasing market demand, OCI is positioning Rotterdam to be Europe’s leading hub for the distribution and storage of clean ammonia.

Both companies are working closely with the Port of Rotterdam and the relevant authorities to ensure all safety and regulatory frameworks are in place on time.

The partnership builds on the port’s first-ever successful ammonia ship-to-ship bunkering pilot in April 2025.

Last week, ABB signed a term sheet agreement with SwitcH2 to engineer and supply automation and electrification solutions for SwitcH2’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit.