Today, we’re spotlighting Matthew Chin, a Senior Project Manager at Amogy. Matt plays a pivotal role in our final technical demonstration, the retrofit of the world’s first carbon-free, ammonia-powered vessel, the NH3 Kraken. Discover his insights into this ambitious, first-of-its-kind project below.
Name: Matthew Chin
Job title: Senior Project Manager
Team: Project Management
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Drawn to engineering at an early age, Matt’s love for the ocean ended up steering him towards an engineering degree in the maritime field. He earned a BSE in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan and later a master’s in systems engineering from the George Washington University.
After graduation, Matt began his career in Washington DC as an engineer at a defense contractor working on Navy programs. Over time, he began working more in program management roles, gaining expertise in system reliability as well as complex system integration across several engineering disciplines
Driven by a desire for new challenges and opportunities, Matthew joined Amogy where he spends his days managing the ins-and-outs of our final technical demonstration.
Why did you decide to join Amogy?
I was seeking a more agile environment where I could have greater control and responsibility with less red tape. At Amogy, I found exactly that. Our company is a fast-paced technology startup that is making major strides in a traditionally slow-moving industry.
It’s also fulfilling to have such an impact on the future of renewable energy. Playing a role in furthering our company’s product and our overall mission to help decarbonize our planet is pretty neat.
What does a typical day look like in your role at Amogy?
Every day is really different. The core focus of my job is working on our company’s final technology demonstration, implementing our product in a tugboat. I oversee many of the day-to-day engineering and construction aspects of the project to ensure smooth execution. I’m often prioritizing tasks and managing competing priorities while keeping short-term and long-term goals in mind.
Can you tell us more about Amogy’s tugboat project?
We’re retrofitting a 1957 tugboat, newly named the NH3 Kraken, into a state-of-the-art carbon-free vessel, powered by ammonia. At the heart of our vessel is our ammonia-to-power system, which will power the propulsion of the vessel as well as the auxiliary systems. This project has essentially been a near-complete rebuild as we stripped down the boat to its bare hull, removing all of the equipment as well as the superstructure.
Over the past year, we’ve installed all new systems, starting with seawater, firefighting, and cooling, and progressing through more complex processes like our ammonia system. There are a ton of moving parts and external vendors (including the shipyard) that cover everything from insulation to ammonia storage.
Throughout this journey we’ve gained invaluable insights into integrating our ammonia cracking technology, particularly in a maritime environment where requirements are more stringent.
What is the significance of this demonstration?
The demo of our carbon-free, ammonia-powered tugboat will mark a significant step for Amogy and the maritime industry. It was only about a century ago when the diesel engine revolutionized transportation. By showcasing the feasibility and benefits of ammonia as a marine fuel, our company is pioneering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This demonstration underscores our commitment to leading the industry toward decarbonization.
What does the demo mean to you?
This tugboat demonstration is a significant milestone. It’s been awesome to see this project go from a basic design, through construction, and, now, final system commissioning. Seeing our hard work come to fruition and seeing how these learnings impact Amogy’s future commercialization is, and will continue to be, incredibly gratifying.
Which of Amogy’s core values resonates the most with you?
It has to be execution. My team is where the rubber meets the road.
I prefer actively participating in the execution phase, making decisions, and prioritizing tasks to ensure successful outcomes. This active engagement keeps me motivated and allows me to see tangible results firsthand.
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Learn more about our upcoming tugboat demonstration and sign up to follow its progress here.
