Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has announced plans to order a dual-fuel ammonia gas carrier to be built at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea for delivery as early as 2025, as shipowners explore alternative fuels that reduce emissions on their way to decarburization.
At the Posidonia show in Athens on Monday, the Singapore-based shipowner signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HHI, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) stating that the dual-fuel ammonia tanker – which could be medium, large or very large – will be registered under the Singaporean flag and classified as ABS.
According to EPS, the new build will be the first vessel to be fitted with a MAN Energy Solutions G60 two-stroke dual-fuel ammonia engine.
Using ammonia eliminates carbon dioxide emissions, which make up the vast majority of global greenhouse gas emissions. But, since no engine commercially available today can use ammonia as a marine fuel, ships currently on order that are “ammonia ready” will be able to switch to other alternative marine fuels after a retrofit. major engine once ammonia engines become commercially available.
Cyril Ducau, CEO of EPS, said: “We believe our industry will need to rely on multiple solutions to steadily reduce and eventually eliminate emissions. This is why it is essential for us to continuously invest and develop various alternative marine fuels in order to offer the right solution to the right segment at the right time. Using ammonia as a marine fuel is the next logical step for EPS and the industry.
Over the next few years, EPS, which operates container ships, bulk carriers and tankers, plans to add more than 60 dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels, creating thus a fleet that will comply with International Maritime Organization (IMO) emissions regulations and significantly reduce the company’s carbon footprint until cleaner energy sources become available. Besides ammonia, it is also exploring the use of ethane, biofuels and methanol.