Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd (CIMC SOE), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric Holdings Limited (CIMC Enric), recently signed a contract with Norwegian company Amon Gas to build 2+2 51,000 cbm ammonia dual-fuel medium-sized LPG/liquid ammonia carriers. This milestone cooperation marks an important step for both parties in promoting green shipping and clean energy applications.
This vessel is reportedly the world’s largest medium-sized gas carrier and the world’s first ammonia-powered midsize gas carrier (MGC) with a capacity exceeding 51,000 cubic meters. It represents a key development direction for future green shipping. Its design fully considers future green energy needs and will play a significant role in reducing the global shipping industry’s carbon footprint. By utilizing ammonia fuel technology, this vessel will contribute to achieving the emission reduction targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
In addition, the new vessel will also be equipped with shaft generators and ammonia fuel generator sets, aiming to further optimize operating costs and improve maintenance efficiency, while significantly reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions during operations, reflecting CIMC SOE’s firm commitment to sustainable development.
Unlike existing MGC vessels equipped solely with ammonia-fueled main engines without ammonia-fueled generator sets, this newly contracted ammonia-fueled MGC carrier is the first to feature both ammonia-fueled main engines and generator sets, setting a new benchmark for ammonia-fueled MGC vessels.
Through the technical application and project implementation of ammonia fuel main engines and generator sets, CIMC SOE will gain a comprehensive understanding of the system matching, safety control, gas supply design, and commissioning processes of ammonia fuel propulsion systems on vessels. This will lay a solid foundation for the subsequent R&D and market promotion of ammonia-fueled bunkering vessels, ammonia-powered large gas tankers, and related supporting equipment, further solidifying the company’s technological leadership in green shipping.
Amon Gas, a joint venture between Navigator Holdings Ltd. and Amon Maritime, specializes in the construction and operation of ammonia-fueled gas carriers, committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry through innovative solutions. Its ammonia-fueled MGC project began development in 2019, with support from ENOVA, Norway’s national energy and environmental technology development agency. The 51,000 cbm vessel contracted with CIMC SOE represents a further development and implementation of this project, with delivery scheduled for 2028.
According to data provided by the Ammonia Energy Association (AEA), as of March this year, a total of 130 ammonia-fueled vessels have been ordered and announced worldwide, with another 225 ammonia- ready vessels. This shows that ammonia fuel is moving towards larger-scale application, highlighting the status of ammonia fuel as a key path for shipping decarbonization.
Gao Wenbao, Vice President of CIMC Enric and General Manager of CIMC SOE, said, “Despite facing numerous external challenges, CIMC SOE continues to maintain its leading position in the industry by leveraging its world-leading liquefied gas carrier technology and manufacturing advantages. The total value of this order exceeds US$160 million. Since the beginning of this year, CIMC SOE has delivered 12 vessels, and new order acquisition has accelerated significantly since May of this year. We expect new orders for related clean water energy business to reach approximately RMB 8 billion (approximately US$1.114 billion) in 2025.”
Yang Xiaohu, Executive Director and President of CIMC Enric, said, “The acquisition of this industry-leading order demonstrates that CIMC Enric’s strength in clean energy shipbuilding has been highly recognized by international shipowners.”
He also stated, “The marine clean energy business has become a key cornerstone of the company’s strategy to develop clean energy solutions and comprehensive services for international shipping. Furthermore, the company has also established core capabilities, including biomass green shipping fuel (green methanol) production capacity and core process solutions for green hydrogen-ammonia-alcohol projects, such as port bunkering. Assisting traditional industries in their clean energy transformation and upgrading is a key vision and mission of the company. We forge ahead and are committed to creating sustainable value for society.”