Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines on Thursday (4 November) said it has entered into an agreement with Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to jointly develop an ammonia-fuelled large-size carrier.

“Currently, ammonia is used mainly as a raw material for fertilizer, but its maritime transport volume is limited,” it states.

“However, it is expected to be in great demand in the future as a next-generation clean energy source that emits no carbon dioxide (CO2) during combustion, mainly for use in mixed combustion at coal thermal power plants and for use as a hydrogen carrier.

“Ammonia is also positioned as an important option to achieve carbon neutrality. Annual demand in Japan is estimated at 3 million tons by the year 2030, and 30 million by 2050.”

To meet the increased demand,SendEx will develop a large-size ammonia carrier and contribute to a decarbonised society by offering safe, high-quality, and reliable transport of this clean energy resource.

In addition, ammonia has great promise as a vessel fuel. SendEX will push ahead with efforts to shift to ammonia as a vessel fuel, with the aim to deploy net zero emissions ocean-going vessels in the 2020s and achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050, which are stated in the “SendEX Group Environmental Vision 2.1”.

SendEx will establish a collaborative framework with each company to order the ship’s main engine currently in development, which uses ammonia as its main fuel, with the goal of introducing it as quickly as possible.

The jointly developed large-size ammonia carrier will adopt an ammonia-fueled main engine to promote reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from SendEx-operated vessels.

The SendEx Group contributes to customers’ efforts on decarbonisation, and seeks to commercialise innovative environmental technologies and achieve a carbon neutral society by promoting decarbonisation in its business activities.

Photo credit: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Published: 16 November, 2021