Ammonia vessel updates: the Castor Initiative, MS Green Ammonia & post-Panamax bulkers

By Julian Atchison on April 05, 2022

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines & Mitsubishi: ammonia carrier

Graphic visualisation of ammonia/liquefied CO2 combined carrier. Source: MOL.
Click to learn more. Graphic visualisation of ammonia/liquefied CO2 combined carrier. Source: MOL.

MOL & Mitsubishi Heavy Industries announced the completion of a concept study on an ammonia/liquefied CO2 carrier. The partners see the 50,000m3 vessel (or something very similar) taking a “mainstream” role in maritime transportation, either by transporting liquefied CO2 to sequestration/usage sites, or by taking advantage of the “growing interest in ammonia as a next-generation clean energy source”.

China State Shipbuilding: car carrier

Via its subsidiary SDARI, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) received Approval in Principal from DNV for its new design: an ammonia-fueled, 7,000 unit capacity car carrier (Chinese language). The design is based on an existing LNG-fueled car carrier of the same size.

Grieg Edge: the MS Green Ammonia

Click to learn more about the MS Green Ammonia. Source: Grieg Edge.
Click to learn more about the MS Green Ammonia. Source: Grieg Edge.

This week DNV also granted AiP to Grieg Edge for the MS Green Ammonia. Launched in late 2020, the vessel is a key part of the Green Ammonia Berlevåg (GAB) project in far-north Norway. We explored recent developments for the MS Green Ammonia and GAB projects in our recent Maritime Ammonia Insights webinar: watch a replay here via our YouTube channel. While not “unexpected”, Grieg Edge welcomed the milestone. The announcement also detailed some key technical specifications of the vessel:

The 120 m long tanker will have a cargo capacity of 7500 cubic meters of ammonia. It will be able to load up to 1000 cubic meters per hour. The engine will be a Wärtsilä W25DF ammonia engine.

Technical specs of the MS Green Ammonia, from Grieg Edge’s official press release, 4 Apr 2022

Castor Initiative: Very Large Crude Carrier

Three members of the Castor Initiative – Lloyd’s Register, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and MISC Berhad (MISC) – signed an MoU this week to develop and construct two Very Large Crude Carriers able to be run on ammonia fuel. The first VLCC will launch in 2025, with the second to follow in 2026 – meeting the Initiative’s stated goal to build & launch the world’s first ammonia-fueled carrier by 2025.

NYK Line: ammonia-ready, LNG-fueled vessel (ARLFV)

Timeline for the completion of an ammonia-ready, LNG-fueled vessel (ARLFV). Source: NYK Line.
Click to learn more. Timeline for the completion of an ammonia-ready, LNG-fueled vessel (ARLFV). Source: NYK Line.

NYK, MTI and Elomatic Oy have completed a concept design for an ammonia-ready, LNG-fueled vessel (ARLFV) – either in the form of a pure car carrier, or a post-Panamax bulker. A number of technical feasibility issues remain, but NYK and partners will (by June this year) extend this ARLFV concept to two more vessel types: a capesize bulk carrier and a very large crude oil carrier. Discussions with shipbuilders & manufacturers will continue throughout 2022, with the aim of completing & launching one of these vessels in 2025.