EXMAR hits milestone to equip gas newbuilds with ammonia dual-fuel engines

EXMAR LPG, a joint venture between EXMAR and Seapeak, is going ahead with ammonia as fuel for two Midsize Gas Carriers(MGCs) on order at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea.

The 46,000cbm ships, scheduled for delivery in early 2026, will be among the first oceangoing vessels to be propelled by dual-fuel ammonia engines, allowing for close to zero emissions trading when using ammonia.

The engines will be delivered by WINGD and the fuel supply system by Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

Carl-Antoine Saverys, Executive Director at EXMAR, said it was proud to be developing vessels with an operational carbon footprint reduction of 90%, which significantly exceeds the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s emissions reduction targets.

Throughout the design and development phase of the vessels, “meticulous attention” has been given to operational safety when introducing a toxic substance into the engine room.

A risk-based design appraisal conducted by classification society Lloyds Register, combined with input from seasoned crews and accepted by the Flag State (Belgium), has been paramount during the process and will continue to guide further design enhancements.

EXMAR, which has over 40 years of know-how in handling ammonia cargoes, said it was confident in its ability to navigate safely using this new zero-carbon shipping fuel.

Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, has joined Aker Horizons as a partner on the large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia project in Narvik, Norway.

The plant under development at Kvandal in Narvik has a planned capacity of up to 600MW and will be one of the first large-scale plants for green ammonia in Europe, with an expected production of 1,000-1,500 tonnes per day.