Construction has officially begun in China on what is expected to be the world’s first ammonia-fuelled containership, nearly two years after the project was first announced. The vessel, named Yara Eyde, is being developed by CMB.TECH as part of its push to accelerate decarbonization in shipping.
Being built at Qingdao Yangfang Shipbuilding, the 1,400-TEU ice-class containership is designed for short-sea operations between Norway and Germany. It will be owned by Delphis, CMB.TECH’s container division, and operated by NCL Oslofjord—a joint venture between North Sea Container Line and Yara Clean Ammonia. Norway’s Enova Investment Fund has supported the project with a $3.6 million grant. Steel cutting commenced on September 5, with delivery scheduled for mid-2026.
So far, ammonia-powered shipping has only seen limited deployment, with three vessels in service—an offshore supply ship and two tugboats—while 39 ammonia-fuelled vessels are currently on order, according to DNV. Engine makers continue to refine technology and certification, while regulators and industry stakeholders work to finalize safety standards and build bunkering infrastructure for the highly toxic fuel.
Once launched, Yara Eyde will serve a route connecting Oslo, Porsgrunn, Bremerhaven, and Rotterdam. Yara Clean Ammonia will supply the fuel, and Yara International has contracted the ship to carry containers between its fertilizer plant in Porsgrunn and ports in Germany.
Beyond operations, the project aims to showcase ammonia’s viability as a low-emission fuel, spur infrastructure investment, and encourage wider adoption of ammonia technology across global shipping.
