VESSEL REVIEW | MFM Nicole – Dual-fuel newbuild marks Montfort Maritime's entry into LPG and ammonia trades
Montfort Maritime, the Singapore-based shipping subsidiary of Switzerland’s Montfort Group, has taken delivery of MFM Nicole, a new medium gas carrier (MGC) that marks the operator's entry into the LPG and ammonia segment.
The fully refrigerated vessel was built by Jiangsu Yangzi-Mitsui Shipbuilding (YAMIC) in China and was handed over on July 21, 2026. She is the first MGC newbuilding to join Montfort's fleet.
Montfort said the ship is the first of two MGC newbuildings covered by agreements concluded with Japanese shipowner Nissen Kaiun in 2024. The sister vessel, MFM Ophelia, is expected around the turn of 2026–27.
YAMIC said MFM Nicole is also the lead ship of a six-vessel series.
Built for safe transport of multiple liquefied gas cargo grades
The vessel is registered in Singapore, with Asian Shipping listed as owner and Lloyd's Register (LR) as classification society. Synergy Maritime Gas, part of the Synergy Marine Group, has been appointed as her technical manager, with the ship joining Synergy's managed fleet on the date of delivery.
MFM Nicole has an LOA of 180 metres (590 feet), a length between perpendiculars of 176.5 metres (579.1 feet), a moulded beam of 29 metres (95 feet), a moulded depth of 19 metres (62 feet), and a scantling draught of 10.6 metres (35 feet).
Gross tonnage is 27,034, net tonnage is 8,110, and deadweight is 30,000. The design speed is 16 knots.
Three independent, prismatic IMO Type A tanks hold the cargo, together offering 40,000 cubic metres (8.8 million gallons) of capacity. At full load, the maximum cargo density is 690 kg/m³, and the minimum design temperature is -50 degrees Celsius. Maximum vapour pressure is 0.025 MPa, rising to 0.045 MPa in harbour.
The MGC’s approved cargo list covers anhydrous ammonia; butadiene, butane, butylene and propylene (all isomers); butane-propane mixture; dimethyl ether; propane; and vinyl chlouride. The specific gravity limit of 0.69 applies to all listed cargoes except vinyl chlouride, which may be carried as a partial load with a maximum specific gravity of 0.97, allowing the denser cargo to be lifted without exceeding the tanks' structural limits.
YAMIC said it optimised the vessel's hull form and tank arrangement so the ship can call at major liquefied gas terminals worldwide.
Other LR notations cover unmanned machinery spaces, a ballast water treatment system, an inert gas system, low-flashpoint fuel arrangements under LFPF(GC,PG), and Lloyd's RMC(LG) for refrigerated cargo machinery on liquefied gas carriers.
The ship also carries ShipRight notations SDA, FDA, CM and ACS(B), along with BWMP(T), IHM, SCM and SERS, as well as *IWS, LI, SPM4 and ECO(EEDI-3).
Low-emission propulsion arrangement
Propulsion is provided by one MAN B&W ME-LGIP direct-drive, LPG dual-fuel main engine. Montfort said the engine can run on either LPG or very low-sulphur fuel oil.
The ability to burn LPG means that some of the LPG cargo carried by the ship can be used as fuel, reducing reliance on conventional bunkers. Montfort said that using LPG for operation can substantially cut gas and particulate emissions.
Selective catalytic reduction systems are fitted to both the main and auxiliary engines to meet IMO Tier III limits; YAMIC said this would allow near-zero NOx emissions. The builder also described the vessel as offering low fuel consumption, long endurance, and high operational efficiency.
MFM Nicole will operate for Trafigura under a time charter arrangement, with sister ship MFM Ophelia set to join her in Montfort's gas carrier fleet.
