CMB.Tech Launches World's First Ammonia-Powered Bulk Carrier
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Belgian shipping company CMB.Tech has launched the maiden voyage of the Mineral Europa, the world's first ammonia-powered newcastlemax bulk carrier, bound for Australia. The vessel, with a deadweight of 210,000 tonnes, was built at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry shipyard in China and will run on green ammonia during its voyage.
A Fleet of 21 Vessels by 2029
The Mineral Europa is the first in a series of 21 ammonia-powered vessels that CMB.Tech plans to add to its fleet between now and 2029, comprising 18 bulk carriers, one container ship and two chemical tankers. The company stated that most of these units will be delivered within the next nine months.
A Decisive Moment, According to CMB.Tech
CMB.Tech's CEO, Alexander Saverys, described the event as a decisive moment for the company and for the shipping industry, noting that after nearly a decade of work, the decarbonization of maritime transport is no longer a distant ambition but a reality. Saverys added that the Mineral Europa is the first of its kind, but that many more vessels will follow in the coming months and years.
Engines and Contracts with Major Clients
The dual-fuel ammonia X72DF-A engine, designed by Switzerland's WinGD for CMB.Tech's series of 210,000 dwt bulk carriers, completed its factory acceptance tests in June at CSSC Engine Co in China. In parallel, Australian mining company Fortescue agreed to charter up to 12 newcastlemax bulk carriers from Bocimar, CMB.Tech's dry bulk arm, while Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines signed an agreement for nine ammonia-powered vessels to be delivered between 2026 and 2029.
Costs and Infrastructure Challenges
CMB.Tech maintains that green ammonia, produced from renewable energy, water and air, allows for zero CO2 emissions during combustion and that its cost could become more competitive than diesel as the technology advances. The company is also investing in ammonia storage facilities and bunkering barges, although sources note that the availability of supply infrastructure and the challenges of handling the fuel, due to its toxicity, remain obstacles to wider adoption.
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