Hanwha Ocean, the South Korean shipbuilder formerly known as DSME, says it has secured an order for four Very Large Ammonia Carrier ships from Greek operator Naftomar.
At 93,000m3 capacity, the ships are thought to be the largest ammonia carriers yet ordered. The order is said to be worth around US$ 500m, and the vessels will be constructed at Hanwha’s Geoje shipyard, with scheduled delivery in 2027. They are reported to be built as ‘ammonia ready’, enabling them to be fuelled by ammonia when this becomes technically feasible.
Other eco-friendly features of the design will include a shaft generator/motor connecting to the propeller shaft for fuel savings, and Hanwha’s Hanwha SmartShip Solution & Service platform.
Naftomar has been active in expanding its fleet, comprising primarly large LPG carriers, and now sees future potential in ammonia transport to aid global decarbonisation efforts.
