ITOCHU & Mitsui O.S.K. Lines: ammonia bunkering demonstrations planned for 2027

Click to learn more. MOL’s ammonia dual-fuel, Capesize bulk carriers are scheduled to hit the water from next year, and (in partnership with ITOCHU) will take part in ship-to-ship bunkering demonstrations in Singapore in 2027. Source: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and ITOCHU Corporation have signed a joint development agreement focusing on ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering demonstrations in Singapore. The two parties aim to use their own ships – an ammonia dual-fuel bulk carrier and an ammonia-fueled, ammonia bunkering vessel – to perform a series of demonstrations in 2027.

Together with CMB.TECH, MOL has three ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulkers under development by China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co. The vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2027 and will be chartered by MOL.

In June this year, ITOCHU ordered a newbuild 5,000 m³ ammonia bunkering vessel to be built in Japan by Sasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2027 and will be flagged under the Singapore Registry. Following demonstrations, ITOCHU aims to commercialize ammonia bunkering at key maritime traffic locations in Singapore and beyond.

ITOCHU: bunkering near the Suez Canal

At the Egyptian-Japanese Business Council and Investment Forum in Tokyo, SCZONE, the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone,  signed two cooperation agreements with Japanese collaborators.

The first, signed with ITOCHU Corporation and Orascom Construction, will focus on the design, development and operation of integrated facilities for the supply of ammonia as a marine fuel at SCZONE’s ports in Sokhna and East Port Said. ITOCHU and Orascom already have an MoU in place for ammonia bunkering development in the Suez Canal, dating back to October 2023.

The second agreement, signed with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), will focus on renewable hydrogen for ship bunkering, demand stimulation and the promotion of future clean energy applications.

SCZONE also met with Sumitomo Corporation. Among other things, the parties discussed the establishment of an industrial zone under the developer model within SCZONE to serve as a platform for attracting Asian investments. The talks also explored partnerships in ship bunkering with various fuel types, as well as renewable hydrogen production for export, ship bunkering, or for industries such as green steel production. The parties also discussed Sumitomo’s potential participation in SCZONE’s projects including water desalination and a hydrogen service corridor.