The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is collaborating with fellow federal agencies and industry stakeholders to shore up critical maritime and port infrastructure security. Follow along as the Ammonia Port Preparedness and Emergency Response (AmPPER) team performs vital testing readiness reviews to validate research that will mitigate against the threat of a catastrophic ammonia release.
Ammonia is one of the world’s most valued commodities and is integral to the critical infrastructure chemical sector. The global production of ammonia has risen to over 220 million tons annually. Historically, 70–80% of that ammonia has been used in agriculture as fertilizer. However, as ammonia emerges as a global energy source, its storage, use, and transport will increase, particularly throughout the maritime transportation system—a network of approximately 95,000 miles of coastline, more than 25,000 miles of waterways, and 361 ports of entry.
The evolution of ammonia as an energy source
The direct use of ammonia as a fuel has been embraced by the shipping industry, which is exploring its use as a more efficient and safer method to transport large amounts of chemicals over long distances.
While the use of ammonia as a maritime fuel and hydrogen carrier are exciting innovations, the resulting large-scale storage and handling at U.S. ports, as well as the colocation of ammonia production facilities, increases the risk of a large-scale release of this toxic inhalation chemical. To ensure the U.S. ammonia industry and commerce via U.S. ports continue to thrive, S&T’s AmPPER effort is developing and testing risk mitigation technology and expedient protective measures to minimize the impacts of potential large-scale releases.
“Ports are preparing to handle increasing quantities of ammonia as a maritime fuel. Without this research, ports face a difficult choice: delay new fuel operations or move forward with safety protocols that weren’t designed for waterfront environments,” said S&T Program Manager Norman Speicher. “We’re making sure emergency managers have evidence-based procedures that actually work in port settings.”
The science behind securing chemical infrastructure and saving lives
S&T’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) is leading the AmPPER program in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Battelle, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, and Savanah River National Laboratory. By studying the risks associated with increased ammonia handling at U.S. ports and focusing on protective measures, community preparedness, and innovative technologies, the ultimate goal is to safeguard both port workers and nearby residents from potential hazards related to large-scale ammonia releases and build overall infrastructure resiliency.
“Ports are gearing up to support a large increase in demand for ammonia for use as a fertilizer and an energy source. Large-scale release experimentation in an environment reflective of the conditions at these ports is needed to improve predictions and preparedness,” said CSAC Lead Chemist Jessica Cox.
“The port environment has harsh conditions with variable temperatures and humidity, high salinity, and sometimes unpredictable weather conditions,” Cox continued. “A complete understanding of the plume dynamics and ammonia interactions under the conditions seen at the ports is necessary to make scientifically supported risk reduction and mitigation strategy recommendations that will save lives when implemented.”
The increased use of ammonia as an energy source provides additional business opportunities for the U.S. chemical industry and U.S. ports. Ammonia is emerging as a transformative energy source that offers significant advantages in storage and transport, making it a promising solution for sectors such as maritime shipping, power generation, and heavy transportation. Its development is paving the way for innovative applications, including fueling ships, trucks, and aircraft, as well as generating electricity through advanced gas turbine technology.
Since the future will undoubtedly include more ammonia handling via U.S. ports than ever before, AmPPER was commissioned to develop science-based recommendations to government, industry, and civilian stakeholders to understand and mitigate the increased risks.
“From these studies we have determined the most efficient droplet size and nozzle characteristics for an effective water curtain, we know that colder water and lower salinity levels increase interaction and reduction in ammonia concentrations, we know that the air purifying escape respirators are protective at the high concentrations that will be seen in a release,” said Cox. “This knowledge will help save lives by allowing educated decisions and science-informed recommendations to be made and implemented.”
The future impact of AmPPER’s research
Ammonia’s ability to be condensed into a liquid state at lower temperatures or under pressure positions it as a practical and versatile fuel for large-scale transport and energy applications. It is being utilized in gas turbines to generate electricity, advancing the power sector. Additionally, ammonia is under exploration for heavy-duty trucks, retrofitting aircraft for short-haul flights and drones, and as a gasoline additive to enhance engine efficiency and reduce knock intensity. Beyond its direct uses, ammonia serves as an efficient medium for storing and transporting hydrogen, overcoming the challenges associated with hydrogen’s storage and distribution. This multifaceted potential makes ammonia a key player in the national security area.
Results of AmPPER studies will ultimately be shared with three distinct stakeholder constituencies: Department of Homeland Security Components (including the U.S. Coast Guard, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), the American Association of Port Authorities, and the U.S. emergency response community.
“By collaborating with key stakeholders across government, industry, and the emergency response community, we are ensuring that AmPPER’s research directly informs practical solutions to enhance safety and resilience at U.S. ports” said Speicher.
The original announcement can be found here.