Green NortH2 Energy, Meriaura and Wärtsilä have signed Letter of Intent to build a multi-fuel cargo vessel that is intended to operate on green ammonia from 2026.
The vessel, equipped with Wärtsilä’s modular multifuel main engines, will be ordered and operated by Meriaura, and Green NortH2 Energy is responsible for supplying green ammonia fuel, which is produced with renewable electricity. The delivery of the vessel is targeted for 2024, and it is planned to start operating on green ammonia in 2026.
The vessel is designed to trade in heavy project cargo segment together with Meriaura’s existing open deck carriers. Besides ammonia, it can be powered by bio-oil or MDO.
The partners highlight that green ammonia has a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions of shipping because the energy needs of this industry cannot be met with battery technology. Compared to hydrogen, it can be stored and moved more easily, and its logistical network already exists.
Meriaura has a long history as a forerunner of renewable energy solutions for short sea shipping activities. “This is a natural step in Meriaura’s future fleet portfolio, complementing the fuel mix together with our in-house biofuel (LBO) production. This collaboration supports our ongoing newbuilding program and carbon neutrality goals,” says Jussi Mälkiä, Chairman of Meriaura.
The project is a continuation of the ship development cooperation between Green NortH2 Energy’s parent company Elomatic and Meriaura which was started to renew Finland’s Saimaa traffic. However, Russia’s attack on Ukraine moved the project from Saimaa to the sea.
