A
contract for a series of ammonia-powered containerships is in the offing.
MB Shipbrokers, formerly known as
Maersk Broker, is reporting that selected yards have been approached by an
unidentified company for a series of post-panamax ammonia dual-fuel vessels.
“With no
ammonia fuel designs immediately ready, the project will likely to be on the
drawing board and under discussion for some time before the outcome is known,”
the Danish broker noted in its latest weekly container report.
Yara
Clean Ammonia, part of Norwegian ammonia and fertilizer manufacturer Yara, and
liner operator North Sea Container Line joined forces last November to deliver the
world’s first containership that will use pure ammonia as fuel.
From
2026 the ship named Yara Eyde will operate between Oslo, Brevik, Hamburg and
Bremerhaven. Where it will be built has yet to be revealed. This newbuild is
far smaller than the post-panamax series mentioned by MB Shipbrokers.
Ammonia as shipping’s ultimate
alternative fuel has been gaining a lot of traction of late. The International Energy Agency
(IEA) said in a recent update of its Net Zero by 2050 report that
shipping will primarily turn to ammonia to decarbonise the sector.
Belgian
owner Exmar is expected to become the first shipowner in the world to take
delivery of ammonia powered ships in the first half of 2026. Exmar has two
46,000 cu m LPG carriers under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, with
these ships set to be able to operate on ammonia or LPG.
Engine
maker MAN Energy Solutions revealed it is on track to deliver its first ammonia
engine in late 2024, with the full commercial release of the two-stroke engine
set for 2025.
Working
with the world’s largest boxship lessor Seaspan, the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller
Center for Zero Carbon Shipping showcased last year the design of an ammonia
dual-fuel 15,000 teu container vessel.