Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding have launched a joint project aimed at developing and building an ocean-going liquefied gas carrier that will use ammonia as its main fuel.
The vessel is envisioned as a mid-size ammonia/LPG carrier equipped with a Mitsui-MAN B&W S60 dual-fuel main engine that can run mainly on ammonia, and targeting to achieve net zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while underway by using some of its ammonia cargo as fuel. This ship type is in the mainstream of ammonia carriers used for international maritime ammonia transportation, therefore, the vessel is able to call at major ammonia and LPG shipping and receiving ports around the world, meaning it can be used on a broad range of routes.
The three companies continue to move toward the joint development and design of the ship, and plan delivery and introduction of the vessel around 2026 as the first ‘net zero emission ocean-going vessel,’ as stated in MOL Group’s environmental vision 2.1, In line with trends toward decarbonisation. According to MOL, worldwide interest in ammonia fuel—which emits no CO2 during combustion—is growing as a next-generation clean energy source. So the move to strategically use ammonia as fuel has been accelerating in the maritime industry as a whole.
The three companies will offer clean ocean transport solutions with net zero emission vessels and play a part in comprehensive efforts to realise a decarbonised society, while anticipating and responding to rising demand for ocean transport of ammonia.
The vessel will be about 180m long, with 40,000m3 cargo capacity.
