On June 13, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, together with Tianjin Southwest Maritime and China Classification Society (CCS) and other relevant units, held a steel cutting ceremony for China’s first 25,000 cubic meter ammonia dual-fuel LPG/liquid ammonia carrier, marking the official entry of the project into the production and construction stage.
It is reported that a total of three vessels in this series are planned to be built, and the construction contract was signed in May 2024. It is a key cooperation project between Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and Southwest Maritime in the field of green shipping.
After completion, the ship will be China’s first dual-fuel (ammonia and traditional fuel oil) LPG/liquid ammonia carrier, and also the first dual-fuel LPG/liquid ammonia carrier classed by CCS.
Compared with the current mainstream LNG dual-fuel vessels, the use of ammonia fuel can reduce carbon emissions by 61% throughout the life cycle in specific scenarios, which can directly help the shipping industry achieve the “net zero emissions” goal proposed by IMO in 2050.
Choosing to develop ammonia dual-fuel LPG/liquid ammonia transport ships is a key step for China’s shipbuilding industry to respond to the “dual carbon” goals and seize the commanding heights of green shipping. At the same time, it will further help Southwest Shipping accelerate its green and low-carbon transformation process.
The decision to develop dual-fuel LPG/liquid ammonia carriers is a key step for China’s shipbuilding industry in responding to the “dual carbon” targets and seizing the high ground in green shipping. At the same time, it will further help Southwest Maritime accelerate its green and low-carbon transformation process.
Designed by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI), the vessel is 159.9 meters long, 26.5 meters wide, and 16.17 meters deep. The vessel is equipped with three type A liquid cargo tanks and two deck tanks, with a design temperature of minus 50 degrees Celsius. It can load two kinds of cargo at the same time and has an ammonia bunkering ready function, meeting CCS ice class B, T-III and EEDI-III stage requirements. In addition, the vessel is equipped with an ammonia dual-fuel main engine and ammonia fuel supply system, offering customers more operational options and strong market competitiveness. It is one of the most advanced liquid ammonia carriers in China and even globally.
It is reported that this vessel is another milestone in the ten-year friendly cooperation between Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and Southwest Maritime. Since 2014, the two sides have cooperated on 5 projects with a total of 15 vessels, from the world’s smallest cylinder diameter LNG dual-fuel main engine of a 9,500 cubic gas carrier to the 25,000 cubic ammonia dual-fuel main engine and gas supply system.
At present, Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding has 16 gas carrier orders (including 60,000 cubic meters dual-fuel LPG/NH₃ carrier, 48,000 cubic meters LPG/NH₃ carrier, 41,000 cubic meters dual-fuel LPG/NH₃ carrier, 25,000 cubic meters dual-fuel LPG/NH₃ carrier, 20,000 cubic meters LNG bunkering vessel), forming a leap in technological independence and industrial chain synergy advantages in the field of small and medium-sized gas carriers. Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding will, based on market trends and customer needs, continue to deepen the market for new energy ship types such as ammonia fuel, LNG and methanol fuel, and help the shipbuilding industry develop with high quality and low carbon.