Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build an ammonia dual-fuel gas carrier at South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI)
The MoU, announced 6 June at Posidonia 2022 in Athens, Greece, includes the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and ABS.
The ammonia gas carrier will be registered under the Singapore flag, classed by ABS, and will be the first vessel fitted with a MAN Energy Solutions G60 two-stroke dual-fuel ammonia engine.
Ammonia does not contain carbon, making it an attractive alternative marine fuel to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions. However, there is no engine commercially available on the market today that can use ammonia as a marine fuel. Ammonia-ready vessels currently on order will be able to switch from other alternative marine fuels but will still require a major engine retrofit once ammonia engines become commercially accessible.
EPS chief executive Cyril Ducau said, “We believe our industry will need to rely on multiple solutions to steadily lower and eventually eliminate emissions. That’s why it is critical for us to constantly invest and develop various alternative marine fuels to offer the right solution to the right segment at the right time. The use of ammonia as a marine fuel is the next logical step for EPS and the industry. I am pleased EPS, MPA, HHI, and ABS have come together on what will certainly be a pivotal moment in our energy transition.”
MPA chief executive Quah Ley Hoon said, “MPA is excited to be part of the EPS-led joint project to develop EPS’ first oceangoing ammonia dual-fuel gas tanker. EPS’ decision to register its new ammonia-fuelled gas carriers under the Singapore flag signifies an important milestone in our journey towards green shipping. We look forward to working closely with EPS and partners to move decisively on maritime decarbonisation.”
The MoU states the dual-fuel ammonia tanker could be either a midsize gas carrier, a large gas carrier, or a very large gas carrier and could be delivered as early as 2025.
