MAN, COSCO to cooperate on engine retrofits
The collaboration integrates MAN’s dual-fuel engine technology with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry's repair and vessel modification capabilities.
The collaboration integrates MAN’s dual-fuel engine technology with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry's repair and vessel modification capabilities.
At Singapore Maritime Week, Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore and Australia’s national science agency CSIRO announced funding for eight maritime decarbonization projects, including ammonia safety training, and an AI-based safety management system. MPA also signed agreements with ABS, the Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Brugges, and confirmed it has contributed to early work on training guidelines for the safe handling of methanol and ammonia at the IMO.
Between 2026 and 2029, Mitsui O.S.K Lines will add three ammonia-powered Capesize bulkers and six chemical tankers to its fleet through joint ownership and chartership with CMB.TECH. MOL, Namura Shipbuilding and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding have also received AiP from ClassNK for a large-size ammonia-powered ammonia carrier.
The Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance has launched its second tender process for decarbonized fuels. Starting in 2027, the tender aims to cover multi-year cargo shipping demand equivalent to 1.5 million loaded, twenty-foot shipping containers transported from Shanghai to Los Angeles.
Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for its new ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia. The system will be installed onboard seven LPG/ammonia carriers being built in China, each featuring WinGD’s X-DF-A engine.
Adding terminal storage capabilities to its fleet of marine transportation and logistics fleet, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has acquired LBC Tank Terminals. LBC is currently inviting expressions of interest for its Vlissingen ammonia storage and cracking terminal, which is set to become operational in 2028.
2025 is a critical year for the adoption of ammonia fuel in shipping. Here, we preview important upcoming meetings of the International Maritime Organization, what regulatory gaps are being filled by this work, potential candidates for decarbonization measures, and progress in engine development. All this sets the scene for incredible progress to be made in the coming years.
Already in 2025, we have seen multiple initiatives launched and resources released to contribute to seafarer training ahead of the first ammonia-fueled vessels. Here, we explore the IMO’s first training guidelines, a new bunker training facility in India, and a safe procedures manual for ammonia bunkering developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
With commercial deployment scheduled to start this June, both WinGD and MAN ES’s under-development ammonia fueled engines have reported promising results across performance, ammonia safety and emissions optimisation parameters. MAN ES and MITSUI have also commenced a commercial-scale prototype test of the MITSUI-MAN ES large-bore, low-speed, two-stroke ammonia engine in Tamano, Japan.
Following a time-charter agreement between the two companies, NYK will deliver an ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier to Yara Clean Ammonia in November 2026.