SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The shipping industry is looking into ammonia as an alternative fuel for powering ships, amid other ongoing plans to cut carbon emissions and achieve net-zero by 2050. [L4N3LF0FU]
Here is a list of companies with ammonia-fuelled ship projects:
NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA (NYK)
NYK , with IHI Power Systems and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), completed the world’s first ammonia-fuelled tugboat, Sakigake, on Aug. 23. The vessel will operate in Tokyo Bay for three months.
NYK is also building the world’s first ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for completion in November 2026.
MITSUI O.S.K LINES (MOL)
MOL , in collaboration with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and Yara International, completed the world’s first ammonia ship-to-ship (STS) transfer at anchorage within the Australian port of Dampier. Two transfers, each involving 4,000 cubic metres of ammonia, took place between two gas carriers to simulate bunkering operations.
MOL has also received approval in principle from shipping classification society ClassNK to design a 210,000-DWT (deadweight tonnage) ammonia-powered bulk carrier.
ITOCHU
Japanese trading house Itochu signed an initial agreement with marine fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum to jointly develop ammonia bunkering in Algeciras, Spain.
TRAFIGURA
Global commodities trading house Trafigura ordered four medium gas carriers from HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, with the option of using either liquefied petroleum gas or ammonia as fuel. These dual-fuelled vessels will be delivered starting from 2027.
EASTERN PACIFIC SHIPPING
Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is building at least six ammonia dual-fuelled ships including ammonia carriers and bulkers, jointly with MAN Energy Solutions, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and yards from the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), to be delivered starting from 2026.
BHP
Top global miner BHP plans to take delivery of its first ammonia-fuelled bulk carrier in 2026. The company was still shortlisting and evaluating companies for building the vessels, it said earlier this year.
BERGE BULK
Berge Bulk ordered two 210,000-DWT ammonia dual-fuelled Newcastlemax vessels from Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, set for delivery in 2025.
MISC
Malaysian shipping firm MISC signed chartering contracts with PETCO Trading Labuan Company Ltd in September 2023 for two ammonia dual-fuelled Aframax vessels. PETCO’s petroleum arm AET signed the shipbuilding contracts with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co.
(Reporting by Jeslyn Lerh and Haridas; Editing by Florence Tan and Sonali Paul)
