HMM is moving into ammonia shipping as part of its decarbonisation plans.
The South Korean container ship and VLCC owner has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Lotte Fine Chemical to transport and bunker the green fuel.
The bunkering plan includes methanol fuel for its new container ships, the world’s first such neo-panamaxes.
The deal has emerged from work launched in 2021 with Lotte and four other South Korean partners on feasible solutions for a green ammonia supply chain.
HMM will carry ammonia secured by Lotte and take charge of overall vessel operations during transport.
Lotte, which has South Korea’s largest ammonia storage facility, aims to procure ammonia and methanol bunkers for HMM’s fleet.
But no details were given of the vessels needed to carry the fuel.
An HMM spokesman told TradeWinds: “We have yet to plan for specific vessel operation to transport ammonia in the near term.
“We are at the MOU stage, so please take it as our mid- and long-term approach to starting and promoting a business.”
HMM said the International Energy Agency has calculated that ammonia is expected to account for around 45% of the demand for marine fuels in 2050.
Tangible results
It added: “We are generating enterprise-wide efforts to accelerate our environmental initiatives for a carbon-free future. We will continue to explore sustainable and clean energies and find a way to go green.
“Continuous efforts for carbon reduction have led to tangible results, including reducing CO2 emissions per container transported by more than half since 2010.”
The group is already working with Swiss producer Proman on methanol fuelling solutions for its ships, and is using or considering using biofuels, LNG, hydrogen and green ammonia.
HMM has nine 9,000-teu methanol-powered boxships on order.
The owner is also ready to trial an onboard carbon capture system for container ships.
Operational field tests will be carried out on one of its vessels in the second half of this year, with its partners Samsung Heavy Industries and equipment supplier Panasia.
Earlier this year, TradeWinds reported that HMM was eyeing a return to the car carrier sector after decades out of the business.
It is said to have invested huge profits made from boxships to enter the niche sector with an order at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China for three 8,600-ceu pure car/truck carrier newbuildings, backed by charters to Hyundai Glovis.
