U.S., South Korea And Germany Develop Digital Twin Technology To Predict Ammonia Leaks On Ships

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Siemens are working on a new digital twin system that could help predict how ammonia spreads on a ship after a leak.

The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to combine computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with digital twin technology. The agreement was announced at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok.

The system will allow engineers to test different leak and accident situations during the ship design stage. This could help them find safety risks before construction starts.

The shipping industry is looking at ammonia as an alternative marine fuel as it tries to reduce its use of fossil fuels and cut emissions.

Green ammonia could significantly reduce the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels and lower emissions from shipping. But using ammonia as a marine fuel also comes with safety concerns.

Ammonia is highly corrosive and toxic if it is inhaled or comes into contact with the body. It can also catch fire at certain concentrations.

The project will look at what happens when ammonia leaks from a vessel and how the gas could spread.

Engineers will be able to test different leak and accident scenarios while the ship is still being designed. The aim is to better understand the risks before the vessel is built.

HD KSOE will work on ammonia safety systems and lead the related experimental research.

Siemens will provide the simulation and digital twin technology. ABS will provide a safety assessment method based on digital twins.

The project will bring together CFD simulations and digital twins to study ammonia leaks.

CFD can be used to model how ammonia spreads after a leak. The digital twin technology will then help engineers assess different leak and accident situations.

Chang Kwangpil, head of the Future Technology Institute at HD KSOE, said AI and digital twin technology could change the way research and development is carried out in shipbuilding.

He said the industry’s use of AI was not only about adopting new technology but also about changing how work is done. He added that AI and digital twins were expected to see greater use in shipbuilding research and development.

Byung Joon Oh, country manager of Siemens Digital Industries Software Korea, said physics-based simulation and digital twin technology could help improve the safety and engineering reliability of next-generation vessels.

He said the cooperation between Siemens, HD KSOE and ABS would help speed up safety checks for ammonia-fuelled vessels while supporting the wider use of digital technology in the marine industry.

The partnership will combine HD KSOE’s work on ammonia safety systems and experimental research with Siemens’ simulation and digital twin technology and ABS’ safety assessment method.

The companies said the technology could help engineers assess a wider range of ammonia leakage and accident scenarios early in the vessel design process.

References: interestingengineering, offshore energy