MOL and NYK to develop large ammonia carriers

Japanese shipping companies Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have collaborated with Tokyo-based power firm JERA to explore and develop large carriers to transport ammonia.

PHOTO: A model of NYK’s ammonia-fuelled ammonia carrier. NYK

They aim to build large ammonia carriers that can also run on ammonia, and create an ammonia supply chain for JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Plant.

The need for larger vessels to ship ammonia is set to increase rapidly with rising demand over the coming decades. Greater economies of scale can in this way help bring down costs and in turn help spur further adoption of ammonia as a fuel.

A new report commissioned by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) found that around 20 large ammonia carriers need to enter the global fleet every year to link green hydrogen producers with consumers.

Hydrogen is one of the two key inputs in ammonia production, along with nitrogen.

Ammonia can act as a hydrogen carrier that is easier to store and ship, and can be converted back into hydrogen after a voyage.

By Tuhin Roy

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