VESSEL REVIEW | Mineral Lietuva – Ammonia-powered Newcastlemax bulker to operate on iron ore trade routes

Belgian shipping company CMB Tech took delivery of the 210,000DWT Newcastlemax bulk carrier Mineral Lietuva from China’s CSSC Beihai Shipbuilding on June 29, 2026.

Built for international bulk commodity transport, the Belgian-flagged vessel features an ammonia propulsion system.

She has joined CMB Tech’s Bocimar dry bulk shipping business unit, which operates a series of Newcastlemax vessels that were also constructed at the same shipyard.

Beihai Shipbuilding, which was also responsible for design work, delivered the vessel in collaboration with China Shipbuilding Trading. She is the twenty-second 210,000DWT bulk carrier to be acquired by CMB Tech from the same builder and belongs to an existing series, the first examples of which were handed over in 2023.

Dual-fuel propulsion for greater operational flexibility

Mineral Lietuva has an LOA of 300 metres (1,000 feet) and a length between perpendiculars of 295.1 metres (968.2 feet). Her moulded beam is 50 metres (160 feet) while her moulded depth is 25.2 metres (82.7 feet) and her maximum draught is 18.5 metres (60.7 feet).

The ship also gas a gross tonnage of 113,029 and a net tonnage of 67,182. Beihai Shipbuilding said her design speed is 14.5 knots.

The hull class expressly permits the ship’s hold numbers two, four, six and eight to be empty, allowing for greater operational flexibility.

The ship’s WinGD X72DF-A dual-fuel engine, which can run on both diesel and ammonia, is compliant with IMO Tier III NOx emissions standards and EEDI Phase III regulations, thanks in part to the integration of a selective catalytic reduction system.

Part of charter fleet facilitating Australian iron ore exports

Mineral Lietuva will initially be operated under charter along with 11 other 210,000DWT Newcastlemax bulk carriers in the Bocimar fleet in support of the activities of Western Australia-based iron ore producer Fortescue. The charter is scheduled to commence by the end of this year.

The newbuild and two other ships that will serve the charter will be ammonia-powered from the outset while the remaining nine can be configured in the future to accommodate ammonia fuel.

Mineral Lietuva is earmarked for spot employment. Her intended operating role covers global bulk commodity transport, particularly routes from Brazil and Australia to Europe and Asia, carrying iron ore, coal and other cargoes.