Recently, HD Hyundai Samho officially delivered the “Jane Maersk”, a 93,000 cbm Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC), built for Danish shipping giant Maersk. The vessel is the first in a series of 10 VLACs that HD Hyundai Samho plans to deliver to Maersk by September 2028.
Measuring 221 meters in length, 36.5 meters in width, and 23.6 meters in height, the vessel is designed to transport both liquid ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
HD Hyundai Samho stated that, given ammonia’s higher specific gravity compared to LPG—as well as its corrosive and toxic nature—the vessel requires a specialized hull structure, dedicated cargo handling systems, and a high-level alarm system designed to respond specifically during ammonia loading operations. This design aims to reduce the operational burden on the crew and minimize the risk of incorrect cargo loading.
It is reported that Maersk and HD Hyundai Samho initially signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in October 2023 for the construction of 93,000 cbm VLACs under a “4+2+2” arrangement; orders for four vessels became effective in December 2023, followed by another four in April 2024 and two in July 2024, with a unit price of approximately $112 million.
As for HD Hyundai Samho, the shipbuilder has secured orders for 30 new vessels valued at $4.08 billion for 2026, achieving 83.2% of its annual order target of $4.9 billion. These orders comprise five oil tankers, 11 very large gas carriers (VLGCs), five liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, and nine VLACs.