MOL has become the first shipping line and future fuel customer to join the Pilbara Clean Fuels Bunkering Hub initiative. MOL aims for its under-development, Capesize bulk carrier vessels to be bunkered in the Pilbara by 2030, servicing the iron ore supply corridor between West Australia and East Asia.
The consortium comprising Keppel Infrastructure, Advario and Sumitomo Corporation has been selected to progress plans for an integrated ammonia-fired power plant, terminal and bunker facility on Jurong Island to the FEED stage.
Cleanergy’s integrated renewable pilot plant in Walvis Bay, Namibia is now online. The pilot is the first phase of a much larger project which will produce commercial scale renewable ammonia fuel: 185,000 tons per year by 2028.
Adding to a pre-existing order of five LNG dual-fuel container vessels scheduled for delivery in 2026, Yang Ming has signed a shipbuilding contract with Hanwa Ocean for the construction of seven 16,000 TEU dual fuel ammonia-ready container ships to be delivered between 2028 and 2029.
The IMO-backed Maritime Just Transition Task Force has unveiled interim frameworks for training seafarers on vessels powered by alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen. The frameworks will provide guidance before harmonised training standards are fully developed.
An “entire cargo” of 23,000 tons of ammonia was transferred from NYK’s ammonia carrier Berlian Ekuator to Trammo’s ammonia carrier Eco Enchanted, operated by Trammo. This is NYK’s first STS operation using ammonia.
Pherousa Green Technologies has announced that its ammonia cracking-based maritime propulsion system will now enter a two-year pilot testing and deployment program. Pherousa will look to deploy its system on a series of 63,000 dwt Ultramax dry bulk carriers, with the first vessel to officially launch in 2030.
The first-ever guidelines for use of anhydrous ammonia cargo as fuel on gas carriers have been finalized by the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers. The guidelines will add supplementary text to the existing IGC Code, adding in specific design and operational requirements for ammonia-fueled vessels.
One spot per week will be allocated to a vessel registered as dual-fuel and capable of operating on at least one lower-emission fuel, such as ammonia. For the initial phases of the scheme, immediate use of the fuel will not be required, and the Canal Authority “recognize the investment and capacity to operate them once supply becomes available”.
Yara Clean Ammonia has reached a time-charter agreement with Navigator Ammon Shipping for two 51,000 m3 dual fuel midsized gas carriers to be delivered by October 2028. The company also celebrated the official start of construction of Yara Eyde, its new ammonia-powered container ship.