Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and its wholly-owned subsidiary MOL Chemical Tankers (MOLCT), along with Belgium-based CMB.Tech, have decided to jointly own and charter a total of nine Capesize bulkers and chemical tankers that can run on zero-emission ammonia.
These will be the world’s first ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulkers and chemical tankers. The programme will comprise three Capesize bulkers to be built at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding for 2026/2027 delivery, and two dual-fuel chemical tankers plus another four which will be delivered ammonia-ready for future conversion, to be chartered to MOLCT, constructed at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) for completion in 2028/29.
According to MOL, amid the trend toward decarbonisation, ammonia is drawing worldwide attention as a next-generation clean energy source, and the ocean shipping industry is accelerating its moves to strategically employ ammonia as a fuel. The MOL Group also intends to adopt ammonia to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Image: CG rendering of ammonia-powered vessel (source: MOL)
