World’s first ammonia-powered boxship set to deliver in 2026

Yara Clean Ammonia, part of Norwegian ammonia and fertilizer manufacturer Yara, and fellow liner operator North Sea Container Line have joined forces to deliver the world’s first containership that will use pure ammonia as fuel.

From 2026 the ship named Yara Eyde will operate between Oslo, Brevik, Hamburg and Bremerhaven.

“The green journey started with the Yara Birkeland, the world’s first self-driving electric container ship, and now we continue it with the Yara Eyde, which will be the world’s first container ship on pure ammonia,” said Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International.

The Haugesund-based liner will operate the ship as part of a joint venture with Yara but the parties have yet to give details about the ownership.

Yara Clean Ammonia will supply the vessel with ammonia that is produced fossil-free or almost carbon-free. Together with Azane Fuel Solutions, a storage and bunkering network is being developed to make pure ammonia available in Norway and eventually Scandinavian ports.

“Ammonia as a fuel does not pollute. When we produce ammonia from renewable energy or with natural gas where up to 95% of the CO2 emissions are captured and stored permanently, pure ammonia will quickly be a good solution for cutting carbon emissions in the maritime sector. Yara Eyde will demonstrate the maturity of ammonia as a maritime fuel,” remarked Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, head of Yara Clean Ammonia.

The project has been awarded just over NOK40m ($3.6m) by the Norwegian government enterprise Enova. Yara said the establishment of the joint venture and ordering of the ship is conditional on the completion of binding agreements and the necessary approvals from the authorities.

Ammonia as shipping’s ultimate alternative fuel has been gaining a lot of traction of late. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a recent update of its Net Zero by 2050 report that shipping will primarily turn to ammonia to decarbonise the sector.

Belgian owner Exmar is expected to become the first shipowner in the world to take delivery of ammonia powered ships in the first half of 2026. Exmar has two 46,000 cu m LPG carriers contracted earlier this year with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, with these ships set to be able to operate on ammonia or LPG.

Engine maker MAN Energy Solutions revealed it is on track to deliver its first ammonia engine in late 2024, with the full commercial release of the two-stroke engine set for 2025, but is yet to name the owner for its first engine.

Also, earlier this year, working with the world’s largest boxship lessor Seaspan, the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping showcased the design of an ammonia dual-fuel 15,000 teu container vessel.

The unit has been designed to run on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) and ammonia and sports an 11,600 cu m non-pressurised ammonia type B tank. It can run at 16 knots and travel 12,000 nautical miles, while the extended endurance of fuel gives it 18,500 nautical miles. The project is connected to the SABRE Consortium, focusing on developing and demonstrating an ammonia supply chain in Singapore.