VESSEL REVIEW | Jane Maersk – Large LPG/ammonia carrier fitted with autonomous systems

Danish shipping company Maersk has taken delivery of a new very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) built by HD Hyundai Samho of South Korea.

The second gas carrier to bear the name Jane Mærsk (the first being a 1990-built vessel) is the first in a new series of 10 VLACs ordered by Maersk from HD Hyundai Samho.

Deliveries of the nine remaining ships in the same series are scheduled to be completed by September 2028.

Low-emission navigation and enhanced safety features

Jane Mærsk has an LOA of 230 metres (750 feet), a moulded beam of 36.5 metres (120 feet), a draught of 11.55 metres (37.89 feet), a moulded depth of 23.6 metres (77.4 feet), a deadweight of 59,937, a gross tonnage of 53,500, independent cargo tanks with a combined capacity of 93,000 cubic metres, and space for 26 crewmembers.

The ship was designed to be capable of transporting both liquefied ammonia and LPG, thus allowing her owner to maximise the use of a single platform in serving a greater number of customers in light of evolving market demand.

According to HD Hyundai Samho, ammonia's higher specific gravity than LPG, combined with its corrosive and toxic properties, required that the vessel be fitted with specialised hull structures and cargo handling systems as well as a high-level alarm that responds specifically during ammonia loading operations. These features are intended to reduce operational burden and minimise the risk of misloading.

The diesel propulsion can deliver a service speed of 16.35 knots. The ship is fitted with exhaust gas recycling systems to help reduce emissions, though emissions can be further reduced when the propulsion arrangement is retrofitted to permit operation on ammonia fuel.

Class-certified autonomous navigation and monitoring capabilities

Jane Mærsk will be operated by Maersk’s business unit Maersk Tankers. The VLAC was built in compliance with the class requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping including those under the “unrestricted service” and “autonomous (NAV, MNV, OP2)” notations.

The NAV and MNV sub-notations indicate that the ship also has permanently installed systems that are capable of automated steering and speed control, traffic monitoring, waypoint tracking, and detection and avoidance of collision hazards, while OP2 means there are systems that permit remote monitoring of the various operating parameters from elsewhere on board the ship or from a shore control centre.