Over US$160 Million! CIMC Signed Contracts for 2+2 World’s Largest Ammonia-Fueled Carriers

Recently, Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “CIMC SOE”), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric, has signed a shipbuilding contract with the Norwegian company Amon Gas for the construction of 2+2 51,000 m³ ammonia dual-fuel medium-sized LPG/liquid ammonia carriers, with the total contract value for the two carriers exceeding US$160 million. This vessel type is currently the world’s largest medium-sized gas carrier, marking a new breakthrough for China in the field of clean energy shipbuilding.

Conceptual Diagram: Image sourced from the official website of Amon Gas

Amon Gas, a joint venture established by Navigator Holdings Ltd. and Amon Maritime, specializes in building and operating ammonia-fueled gas carriers and is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry through innovative solutions. Its ammonia-fueled medium-sized gas carrier (MGC) project, launched in 2019, has received support from ENOVA, Norway’s national agency for the development of energy and environmental technologies.

The contracted vessel is the world’s first medium-sized gas carrier with ammonia-fueled power and a capacity exceeding 51,000 m³, representing a significant development direction for future green shipping. The new vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2028, and will make important contributions to achieving the emission reduction targets of the international shipping industry.

Unlike existing MGC designs in the market that only feature ammonia-fueled main engines but lack ammonia-fueled generator sets, the newly signed ammonia-fueled MGCs are the first in their class to integrate both ammonia-fueled main engines and on-board generator sets, significantly improving energy efficiency compared to traditional designs.

Through the technical application and project execution of the ammonia-fueled main engines and generator sets, the Company will fully master system matching, safety control, gas supply design, and commissioning processes for ammonia fuel power systems on vessels. This capability will lay a solid foundation for subsequent R&D and market promotion of ammonia-fueled bunkering vessels, large ammonia-powered gas carriers, and related supporting equipment, further consolidating the Company’s technological leadership in green shipping.

According to data from the Ammonia Energy Association (AEA), as of March this year, a total of 130 ammonia-fueled vessels have been ordered and announced globally, alongside an additional 225 ammonia-ready vessels in the pipeline. This demonstrates that ammonia fuel is moving towards larger-scale applications, highlighting its position as a key pathway for decarbonizing the shipping industry.

Yang Xiaohu, an executive director and the president of CIMC Enric, stated that securing this industry-leading order demonstrates that CIMC Enric’s capabilities in clean energy shipbuilding have been highly recognized by international shipowners. He pointed out that the offshore clean energy business has become one of the important cornerstones of the Company’s strategy to deploy international shipping clean energy solutions and comprehensive services. Building on its technological accumulation, the Company has established core competencies such as production capacity for green methanol and port bunkering, continuously driving the green transformation of the shipping industry and fulfilling its mission of sustainable development.