Hoegh Autoliners has found the ammonia to power its dual-fuel newbuildings.
The Oslo-listed car carrier owner is partnering Grieg Maritime-backed North Ammonia to source green ammonia for four ships under construction in China.
“The fact that green ammonia is becoming a totally viable maritime fuel is a game-changer for our industry,” said Hoegh Autoliners chief operations officer Sebjorn Dahl.
“I thought this development would be achievable in 10 years’ time. But technology is moving faster than expected and the future is here.”
The newbuilding quartet is part of Hoegh Autoliners’ 8 upcoming Aurora class vessels, capable of handling more than 9,000 ceu each. The company has an option for four more.
The first ammonia-capable ships — the last of the Aurora class vessels — are expected to be delivered in November 2026, with the remaining three coming in six-month intervals to round out the order at China Merchants Heavy Industry Jiangsu.
They will be outfitted with engines from MAN Energy Solutions — among the world’s first ammonia engines on commercial ships.
Dahl told TradeWinds that Hoegh Autoliners is confident in the timeline for delivery, which it has worked out with the shipbuilder and MAN.
“We have an extremely good timeline with good companies,” he said. “A lot of things can happen, but the timeline is there and everyone agrees. That’s why we can talk about it.”
Ammonia has emerged as a potential fuel option as shipping rushes to slash emissions to keep up with regulatory goals and customer expectations.
It can be CO2-free so long as the hydrogen and nitrogen feedstocks are sourced renewably.
North Ammonia intends to develop a maritime-focused green ammonia production, storage and distribution facility at Eydehavn, 190 km south-west of Oslo, by 2027.
The company was started in 2021 and is a 50/50 joint venture backed by Grieg Maritime’s Grieg Edge and Vergia, a subsidiary of green investment firm Arendals Fossekompani.
Vidar Lundberg, North Ammonia chief executive, told TradeWinds the agreement with Hoegh Autoliners is among the first of its kind for the company, given the size and scope of the deal.
He called Hoegh Autoliners a frontrunner on green ammonia and said such partnerships are necessary to help the planned Eydehavn facility get to a final investment decision.
“That will make the project bankable,” he said.
The agreement furthers Hoegh Autoliners’ push to run at least 5% of its deepsea operation on green ammonia by 2030 while consuming at least 100,000 tonnes of the fuel.
Dahl and Hoegh Autoliners head of technical development Henrik Andersson acknowledged that there are still safety issues — exposure to ammonia can be deadly — but they are working those out with MAN and a major ammonia producer.
Dahl promised the company would be a first mover on safety and regulation.
“It’s not super complicated. It’s new as a fuel” but not new overall, given its agricultural uses, he said. “We’ll be a frontrunner on that.”
