Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has concluded a joint development agreement (JDA) with Itochu Corporation to collaborate on joint development initiatives with the aim to carry out the demonstration of ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering in Singapore using Itochu’s ammonia bunkering vessel and ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulkers.
Through the demonstrations, which are planned to be carried out in the second half of 2027, MOL and Itochu aim to promote the early implementation of ammonia bunkering vessels and ammonia-fuelled vessels.
The IMO has been discussing its goal of reducing GHG emissions from international shipping to net-zero by or around 2050. In April 2025, a draft for revisions to the Marpol convention, including the adoption of a system aimed at converting marine fuel for vessels to alternative fuels with low GHG emissions in phases and a system in which economic incentives are provided for the introduction of zero-emission or nearly zero-emission fuel-powered vessels, was approved internationally as a medium-term measure to achieve this goal. When this framework takes effect, initiatives to supply alternative fuels with low GHG emissions and the introduction of zero emission or nearly zero-emission fuel-powered vessels are expected to be accelerated further.
With ammonia expected to be used as a zero-emission marine fuel, some stakeholders are considering using ammonia-fuelled vessels and facilitating their development. Under this situation, the ammonia bunkering business, which supplies ammonia to ammonia-fuelled vessels, serves to boost relationships between the maritime industry and the fuel industry. In particular, ammonia bunkering vessels are drawing attention globally as important facilities in the fuel supply chain.
MOL will jointly own three ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulkers with Belgium-based CMB.Tech, which are scheduled to be delivered by China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding between 2026 and 2027. These vessels will be the first ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulkers, and chartered by MOL.
Itochu ordered the first newbuilding 5,000m3 ammonia bunkering vessel in June 2025. The vessel will be built by Sasaki Shipbuilding in Japan, flagged under the Singapore Registry and scheduled to be delivered in 2027. Through conducting ammonia bunkering demonstrations, it aims to establish safe offshore bunkering operation of ammonia as marine fuel. Furthermore, Itochu aims to commercialise its ammonia bunkering business at key maritime traffic locations in Singapore and other countries worldwide.
The MOL Group intends to adopt ammonia fuel in its ‘MOL Group Environmental Vision 2.2’ to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Image: Rendering of MOL Group ammonia-fuelled vessel (source: Mitsui OSK Lines)
