NYK completes its first ship-to-ship transfer of liquefied ammonia

Japan-based shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) has completed its first ship-to-ship (STS) ammonia transfer off the coast of Ceuta, Spain.

IMAGE: STS ammonia transfer operation between ammonia carriers Berlian Ekuator and Eco Enchanted. NYK Line

In the operation, the US-based ammonia trader Trammo’s ammonia carrier Eco Enchanted received approximately 23,000 mt of liquefied ammonia from the ammonia carrier Berlian Ekuator, which is owned by NYK Line and time-chartered by Japanese trading firm Mitsui.

“In addition to its existing uses in fertilizers and chemicals, ammonia is expected to be used in a variety of applications, including as marine fuel, as a next-generation clean energy source that does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned,” according to NYK Line.

With demand for ammonia expected to grow, the STS method is drawing attention as a flexible supply option that is not limited by port size or onshore infrastructure. This successful operation marks a key step toward building “an international ammonia supply network,” NYK Line added.

By Tuhin Roy

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