Mitsubishi, J-ENG push ammonia-fueled gas carrier closer to launch

Fuel supply system for 2-stroke engine shipped to J-ENG

Click to take a virtual tour of the new ammonia-powered vessel, which is set to enter service later this year. Source: NYK Line YouTube.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has shipped two critical marine fuel system elements – an ammonia fuel supply system and an ammonia gas abatement system – to Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) for integration with the 7UEC50LSJA-HPSCR engine. Mitsubishi’s fuel supply and gas abatement systems were specifically designed for this engine model. J-ENG reported that the two-stroke model passed a rigorous testing regime late last year, demonstrating nitrogen pollutant emission profiles similar to those reported from other two-stroke engine manufacturers globally. After testing, the first engine unit was delivered to the JMU Ariake Shipyard in October 2025, and then installed on the first of NYK’s ammonia-fueled gas carrier vessels, scheduled to enter service in 2026.

An NYK-led consortium has been developing the vessel design since 2021, thanks to funds awarded as part of NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund. ClassNK awarded the design AiP in September 2022. The consortium, which includes J-ENG, IHI Power Systems and Nihon Shipyard, signed a construction contract with Japan Marine United in 2024 to build the 40,000 m³ vessel series at the Ariake Shipyard. In March last year, Yara Clean Ammonia signed a time-charter contract with NYK, which will see the first in the series of vessels delivered to Yara later this year, then entering commercial service.

NYK Bulkship will also use two of the vessels to transport ammonia from the Blue Point project in Louisiana to JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station in Hekinan City, Japan for commercial co-firing. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (alongside CMB.TECH) is developing a small fleet of ammonia-powered vessels, with two very large gas carriers also contracted by JERA to transport low-carbon ammonia to Japan.