Japanese partnership starts development of ammonia-fuelled gas carrier

A partnership formed by Japanese companies Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding has begun joint development of a new ocean-going liquefied gas carrier that will use ammonia as its main fuel.

The proposed vessel is a mid-size ammonia/LPG carrier equipped with a main engine that can run mainly on ammonia.

The vessel will have a length of 180 metres, a beam of 30 metres, a total cargo tank capacity of 40,000 cubic metres, and a Mitsui-MAN B&W two-stroke, dual-fuel engine.

MOL said the partnership expects the vessel to be completed by 2026. Once in service, it will be able to call at major ammonia and LPG shipping and receiving ports worldwide, meaning it can be used on a broad range of routes.