Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has signed three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) for the development of world’s first ammonia dual-fuel vessels.
EPS, MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI), and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) have announced a collaboration on the development of an ammonia-burning engine that will be installed on a new fleet of EPS-managed vessels.
The engines produced are intended to pave the way for widespread deployment in the marine industry.
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EPS CEO, Cyril Ducau, said: “We have been talking about energy transition and lowering emissions for years. We are ready to talk about zero-emission solutions. The ammonia engines by MAN ES will be an inflection point for the maritime industry.
“In the next few years, we expect to operate vessels with significantly reduced emissions running on ammonia. Dual-fuel engines like LNG, LPG, and ethane will still play a significant role in various segments.
“However, with this engine, it will mean that this will be the first time that ocean going vessels will take a significant step towards zero carbon emissions. This is a an extremely exciting time for all of us.”
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MAN ES Senior Vice President, Bjarne Foldager, added: “This is a significant milestone for MAN ES, EPS, and the maritime industry. Together, we will show that ammonia is a commercially viable option for ship owners and managers to become IMO compliant years ahead of schedule.”
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Chief Executive, Teo Eng Dih, concluded: “MPA is actively investigating the use of ammonia for international shipping and is glad to be part of this collaborative effort.
“We look forward to working closely with EPS and partners to study the ammonia engine design and operations to support the development of new safety guidelines and standards, port preparations, training and emergency response plans.”
These vessels are scheduled for delivery from 2026 onward.
In February 2023, EPS announced the installation of Value Maritime’s (VM) Filtree system on its vessel, PACIFIC COBALT.
