Construction begins on China's first ammonia-powered gas carrier

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) subsidiary Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, together with Tianjin Southwest Maritime and China Classification Society (CCS), recently held a steel-cutting ceremony to mark the start of construction of a new ammonia-powered, LPG/liquefied ammonia (NH3) carrier.

The partners said the ship will have a total cargo capacity of 25,000 cubic metres upon completion and will be the first ammonia-powered, liquefied gas carrier to be built in China.

The vessel's propulsion will include dual-fuel engines that will be able to run on both ammonia and conventional fuel oil.

Designed by CSSC's Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute, the LPG/NH3 carrier will have a length of 159.9 metres, a beam of 26.5 metres, and a depth of 16.17 metres. The NH3 cargo and fuel tanks will be capable of storing ammonia at –50 degrees Celsius.

The ship will be built to comply with CCS ice class B requirements as well as IMO Tier III and EEDI phase III standards.