Ammonia-powered tug completes first sail as a test for zero-emission shipping
Mar 9th 2026
New York startup Amogy converted the NH3 Kraken to run on green ammonia that is cracked into hydrogen for a fuel cell, demonstrating a potential route to slash shipping emissions while researchers and shipbuilders address toxicity, production and trace pollutant challenges.
- A converted 67-year-old tug called NH3 Kraken completed its first sail on the Hudson River using ammonia-derived hydrogen and a fuel cell for electric propulsion.
- Amogy splits green ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen, sends hydrogen to a fuel cell, and avoids burning ammonia so the system produces no direct carbon dioxide emissions.
- The tug carries a 2,000-gallon ammonia tank that Amogy says provides about 10 to 12 hours of operation per outing.
- Ammonia is carbon-free by molecule and easier to store than hydrogen, but it is toxic and nearly all current ammonia production relies on fossil gas.
- Amogy reports the process yields mainly nitrogen and water with trace nitrogen oxides that the company is working to eliminate.
- Amogy has raised about $220 million, including investment from Amazon, and is partnering with shipbuilders such as Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai, and Samsung Heavy Industries as the industry seeks options to meet IMO net-zero goals by around 2050.