NGOs urge IMO: Ammonia cannot be shipping’s next pollution problem

A coalition of environmental and technology NGOs is calling on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to reject proposals that would permit ships to routinely discharge ammonia into the ocean.

Their appeal comes after a week of discussions at the IMO’s Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) Sub-Committee in London (9–13 February), where governments examined, for the first time, how to manage ammonia effluent from ammonia-fueled vessels.

While ammonia is being explored as a lower-carbon marine fuel, the groups warn that allowing its discharge at sea would simply swap one pollution problem for another. Instead, they urge the IMO to adopt a straightforward safeguard: require ships to retain ammonia effluent onboard and offload it at port reception facilities.

This approach, they argue, would enable shipping to cut greenhouse gas emissions without introducing a new source of toxic marine pollution. The joint statement was issued by Opportunity Green, Environmental Defense Fund, One Planet Port, Pacific Environment, Clean Shipping Coalition, Seas at Risk and ZESTAs. 

Shipping needs to decarbonize fast, and green ammonia could play an important role. But we must not reduce climate pollution while normalizing ocean discharge of toxic waste. The IMO must ensure green fuels are adopted with safeguards that protect marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and seafarers. 

…said Dr. James Kershaw, Scientific Officer at Opportunity Green. 

What is ammonia effluent — and why it matters

Ammonia gas is extremely toxic and harmful to human health. On ammonia-fueled ships, leftover ammonia gas (for example, when crews purge fuel lines during routine operations) must be captured and contained, often by absorbing it into water.

This produces a high-strength liquid waste known as ammonia effluent. At PPR this week, some Member States discussed a framework that would allow conditional discharge of ammonia effluent into the ocean if certain operational and dilution conditions are met.

To remind, KR (Korean Register), together with the Korean government and shipbuilders launched an international working group to develop global safety and discharge standards for ammonia effluent from ammonia-fueled ships. The group held its meeting on 5 February at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center, marking a significant step in strengthening cross-industry and government cooperation on the development of international safety and discharge standards.

NGOs warn: focusing only on short-term toxicity misses bigger risks

Supporters of discharge argue that sufficient dilution can avoid immediate harmful effects on marine life. But the group cautions that’s only one part of the environmental risk:

• Chronic, long-term impacts from repeated low-level exposure are an evidence gap that short-duration studies cannot resolve, and more research is urgently needed.
• Discharging ammonia introduces reactive nitrogen pollution to marine environments, contributing to eutrophication, oxygen depletion, and ocean acidification—pressures already straining ocean health.

In a fully decarbonized maritime future, 35–50% of ships are projected to run on green ammonia. If tens of thousands of vessels are periodically discharging ammonia waste, “conditional discharge” could quickly become routine, with consequences that are still unknown for long-term ocean health.  

The nitrogen cycle is already beyond safe planetary boundaries—we cannot afford to normalize another source of reactive nitrogen pollution as shipping decarbonizes. The industry has an opportunity to get ammonia fuel right from the start by retaining waste onboard and landing it ashore, rather than defaulting to ocean discharge. This isn’t just about toxicity—it’s about preventing further disruption to a critical planetary system that’s already under stress. 

…said Lucy Gilliam, Co-executive Director, One Planet Port, highlighted. 

The alternative: retain onboard, offload in port, and enable reuse

NGOs further urge the IMO to adopt a precautionary approach that prohibits discharge at sea and instead requires ships to retain ammonia effluent onboard and offload it at port reception facilities—where it could be reused by other ammonia users, such as the chemical or fertilizer industries, supporting a circular economy.

The ocean should not be a testing ground for routine disposal of toxic ammonia waste. The risks go beyond short-term toxicity to long-term ecosystem damage and added pressure on a global nitrogen cycle that is already out of balance. Until these impacts are fully understood, the precautionary principle demands a strict prohibition on discharge at sea and a clear requirement for onboard retention and unloading at ports. 

…noted Marie Cabbia Hubatova, Director, Global Shipping at Environmental Defense Fund.

The group also calls for the IMO to ensure decisions are based on transparent evidence. Concerns have been raised that exclusive shore disposal could be burdensome, but the NGOs note that cost and storage impacts must be quantified, and available examples suggest effluent volumes from routine operations may be small relative to ship capacity.

Moreover, it is vitally important that the IMO considers the various options for fully managing ammonia effluent, including quantifying the full range of challenges and risks associated with each.

Ammonia cannot become shipping’s next pollution problem. Real climate action starts with cutting ships’ energy demand through efficiency and wind propulsion. If ammonia is used, its waste must stay out of the sea. Ocean health quite simply cannot be collateral damage. 

…said Anaïs Rios, Senior Shipping Policy Officer and Clean Shipping Coalition Board Member.

Madadh MacLaine, Secretary General of ZESTAs, further highlighted that shipping’s fuel transition is a chance to reduce harm to the ocean. “Industry first movers stand ready to enable that transition, but this opportunity will be missed if the lowest-cost option becomes the default. The IMO must set clear regulations, pre-deployment” MacLaine explained.

NGOs call on IMO Member States to:

• Prohibit routine or conditional discharge of ammonia effluent at sea, consistent with the precautionary principle.
• Ensure guidelines address long-term, chronic ecosystem impacts and the broader consequences of reactive nitrogen pollution—not only acute toxicity.
• Advance a global pathway for onboard retention and port offloading, paired with coordinated scaling of port reception facilities.
• Establish a transparent, science-based work program through PPR14 and beyond to close key evidence gaps and deliver enforceable measures.

The fuel transition must be both fast and durable. Pathways that shift risk from the atmosphere to the ocean will ultimately slow deployment by eroding public trust. Getting ammonia right from the start is how we ensure zero-emission fuels scale globally. 

…said Davina Hurt, California policy director, Pacific Environment.

source : safety4sea