On October 29, CSSC Beihai Shipbuilding held a joint naming ceremony for three 210,000 DWT ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers and one 319,000 DWT ammonia-ready very large crude carrier (VLCC), all built for the Belgian company CMB.TECH.
One 319,000 DWT ammonia-ready VLCC has been officially named “NERVII,” while three 210,000 DWT ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers have been named “RURI MIRAI,” “RURI SEKAI,” and “RURI HIKARI,” respectively.
The 210,000 DWT ammonia dual-fuel bulk carrier and the 319,000 DWT VLCC named on this occasion were both independently researched, designed, and constructed by Beihai Shipbuilding. The ammonia dual-fuel bulk carrier has an overall length of 300 meters, a beam of 25.2 meters, and a structural draft of 18.4 meters. It features a service speed of 14.0 knots at its structural draft, a deadweight capacity of 209,100 tons, and an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) that is 54.9% below the baseline value.
The 319,000 DWT VLCC has an overall length of 339.50 meters, a beam of 60.00 meters, a depth of 30.30 meters, and a design draft of 22.50 meters. With a service speed of 14.5 knots, the vessel complies with the Phase 3 requirements of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). It is designed to accommodate two 6,000-cubic-meter ammonia fuel storage tanks, enabling “zero-carbon” operations throughout the vessel’s entire lifecycle.
It is worth noting that on October 9, Beihai Shipbuilding successfully delivered the “Mineral Europe”—the world’s first 210,000 DWT ammonia dual-fuel bulk carrier—built for the Belgian company CMB.TECH. This vessel stands as the world’s first 210,000 DWT class ammonia-powered bulk carrier capable of entering actual commercial operation. With the simultaneous naming of four such vessels, Beihai Shipbuilding has transitioned from the exploratory phase of building its first ammonia dual-fuel ship to series production, signaling that the company’s construction technology for ammonia dual-fuel vessels has reached a high level of maturity.
The trust of clients and recognition from the market serve as the most compelling endorsement of Beihai Shipbuilding’s competitiveness in the green vessel sector. Since 2021, Beihai Shipbuilding has forged a deep strategic partnership with the Belgian company CMB.TECH, centered on the use of ammonia as a green fuel. To date, the shipyard has been contracted to build a total of 28 bulk carriers (210,000 DWT class)—designed as either ammonia-ready or equipped with dual-fuel ammonia propulsion systems—as well as 5 319,000 DWT class VLCCs that are ammonia-ready.
As a leading global shipping operator, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) will oversee the deep-sea operations of the three ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers named, conducting demonstration voyages across its global dry bulk shipping network. United by a shared commitment to zero-carbon shipping, Beihai Shipbuilding, CMB.TECH, and MOL have deepened their partnership based on mutual benefit and trust. Through collaborative innovation and shared success, they have built a multi-party, zero-carbon ecosystem—a significant contribution toward a future of zero-carbon development for the global shipping industry.