CMB.TECH, a Belgian company, has made a significant advancement in its efforts to develop and operate large vessels powered by ammonia with the launch of the Mineral Europa tanker (with a capacity of 210,000 tons) as the first ammonia-powered ship. This tanker is part of a fleet of 12 ships leased to Fortescue, which will increase to 21 vessels by 2029.
Ammonia Fuel Development in the Maritime Industry
The Saverys family and CMB.TECH are at the forefront of promoting the use of ammonia as a marine fuel to reduce carbon emissions in the maritime transport industry. Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, has referred to these ships as the beginning of a "propulsion revolution" and noted that these vessels demonstrate that large ocean-going ships can operate using ammonia.
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The Mineral Europa tanker, built by CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., features a dual-fuel engine designed to use either ammonia or conventional marine fuel. This engine was developed in collaboration with WinGD, and the ship measures 300 meters (equivalent to 984 feet) in length and reaches a speed of 14 knots. The vessel is leased to Fortescue for transporting iron ore from the Pilbara region of Australia to China and other international markets. The management of this ship is handled by Anglo-Eastern, and its ownership is with Bocimar, which is part of CMB.TECH's dry fleet.
Safety and Sustainable Development
Ammonia is stored as a liquid in independent tanks on the ship's deck, located at a safe distance from both sides of the vessel. CMB.TECH has emphasized that safety protocols are carefully designed, and all crew members must undergo necessary training before boarding the ship.
CMB.TECH states that it is building a new fuel ecosystem that is essential for supporting the transition to clean maritime transport. This ship will operate using "green ammonia" produced from renewable energy, water, and air. Currently, no information has been provided regarding the current availability of this fuel for ships.
CMB.TECH plans to launch more ammonia-powered ships in the next nine months. By the end of 2029, the company will have a fleet consisting of 18 dry cargo ships, one container ship, and two chemical tankers, all operating on ammonia.
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