Kawasaki Heavy Industries delivers vessels while simultaneously securing new orders.

It is reported that this vessel was built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works and held its naming ceremony in December 2022. It is the second of two 86,500-cubic-meter LPG dual-fuel very large gas carriers (VLGCs) ordered by NYK Line from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 2020. The first vessel, 'LUPINUS PLANET', was delivered last September. Both ships will be leased to the LPG trading company Astomos Energy Corporation. On January 27, Kawasaki Heavy Industries received another order from NYK Line for a dual-fuel very large LPG/ammonia carrier. According to available information, this is the fifth very large gas carrier ordered by NYK Line from Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Like the previous four vessels, it measures approximately 230 meters in overall length, 37.20 meters in breadth, and 21.90 meters in depth, with a summer loaded draft of 11.65 meters and a tank capacity of 86,700 cubic meters. Its cargo holds are designed for flexible carriage of both LPG and ammonia, accommodating various trade patterns. The vessel will be constructed at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works and is scheduled for delivery in 2026. The newly ordered very large gas carrier is equipped with an LPG dual-fuel engine and an shaft generator. While underway, the shaft generator produces electricity using rotational power transmitted from the main engine to the propeller, eliminating the need for conventional diesel generators during normal operation—thus enabling pure LPG fuel operation, except for a small quantity of pilot fuel. Additionally, the vessel series features an ammonia-ready design, developed in accordance with guidelines issued by ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai), and will receive the corresponding class notation from ClassNK, enabling future operation on ammonia fuel.

The ammonia industry—viewed as a zero-carbon fuel—is expanding beyond chemical and fertilizer applications into shipping, offshore wind power, photovoltaics, shipbuilding, and energy storage.

According to the introduction, the ammonia floating production, storage, and offloading (NH3 FPSO) concept can be realized either by converting existing very large crude carriers (VLCCs) or by constructing purpose-built newbuild vessels. This facility would primarily draw electricity from offshore wind farms to produce hydrogen via seawater electrolysis, and nitrogen via air separation units; these would then be combined in a synthesis unit to produce ammonia. The produced ammonia would be condensed into liquid form, temporarily stored onboard the vessel, and subsequently offloaded onto dedicated ammonia carriers via floating hoses. Typically, such NH3 FPSOs remain moored at designated locations but can disconnect and reposition as required by operational plans. DNV stated that its Approval in Principle (AiP) covers all aspects of the integrated vessel concept—including structural integrity, mooring systems, ammonia production, ammonia storage, and loading/unloading operations. Granting of the AiP confirms the technical feasibility of the design and signals readiness to proceed into the basic design phase. Bob Rietveldt, a member of the SwitcH2 Management Board, remarked: “We are delighted that our concept has been granted AiP by DNV and look forward to collaborating with DNV in the next project phase.” Fredrik Savio, Senior Vice President of Project Development at BW Offshore, commented: “At BW Offshore, we leverage our offshore expertise to design next-generation floating production solutions that support and accelerate the energy transition. Achieving this AiP represents a significant milestone—and an encouraging step toward a cleaner energy system.” The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has specifically published a chart illustrating trends in fuel-energy development, highlighting that ammonia (NH₃) as a clean new energy source will account for an increasingly larger share. As shown in the following chart depicting new energy development trends, the scale of various clean energy sources is clearly visible—those who delay action in the ammonia fuel industry may soon regret having only watched from the sidelines. In 2022, DNV approved a similar floating production concept developed by Norway’s H2Carrier for producing green ammonia offshore using wind power—the 'P2XFloater'. Source: H2Carrier So, what ammonia-related projects have emerged across the industry so far this year? ◈ MOL’s Ammonia-Powered Bulk Carrier Design Receives Class Society’s Approval in Principle On January 27, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. announced that their jointly designed large-scale ammonia-powered bulk carrier had received an Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate from a classification society. Reportedly, MOL and Mitsui & Co. jointly defined the vessel’s dimensions and specifications and commissioned Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to carry out the design. The AIP-covered vessel is a 210,000-dwt Capesize bulk carrier. The design specifies an ammonia-fueled main engine that emits no carbon dioxide during combustion, thereby achieving zero CO₂ emissions during navigation. The vessel will also feature two ammonia fuel tanks installed on deck to maximize cruising range across diverse routes while optimizing cargo space utilization. ◈ Sumitomo Corporation and Oshima Shipbuilding’s Ammonia-Powered Bulk Carrier Joint Development Receives Class Society’s Approval in Principle On January 6, Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation announced that its ammonia-powered bulk carrier, jointly developed with Oshima Shipbuilding, had received an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate from a classification society.

MOL names world's first three ammonia-fueled Capesize bulk carriers

Oct 30, 2026

MOL named the world's first three ammonia-fueled Capesize bulk carriers for delivery starting in 2027, advancing its net-zero strategy through ammonia as a key decarbonization fuel.

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