Ammonia-fuelled midsize gas carriers ordered by EXMAR-Seapeak joint venture

Ordered by EXMAR LPG from South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, the midsize gas carriers, capable of transporting LPG and ammonia, will be among the first oceangoing vessels to be propelled by WinGD X52DF-A two-stroke ammonia dual-fuel engines. This will enable the ships to burn the zero-carbon fuel when they are carrying ammonia as cargo. The two 52-bore engines for the gas carriers will be delivered by WinGD in Q2 2025 and the fuel supply system by Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.

“As leading global transporters of ammonia, we are proud to be developing vessels with an operational carbon footprint reduction of 90%, which significantly exceeds the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s emissions reduction targets,” said EXMAR executive director Carl Antoine Saverys. The 46,000-m^³ carriers are scheduled for delivery in early 2026.

Mr Saverys said, “meticulous attention has been given to operational safety” throughout the design process because of the highly toxic nature of ammonia. “A risk-based design appraisal conducted by classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR), combined with input from our seasoned crews and accepted by the Flag State (Belgium), has been paramount during the process and will continue to guide further design enhancements” he added.

LR awarded WinGD an approval in principle for the two-stroke ammonia dual-fuel engines in September 2023.

“It is crucial the maritime sector continues to provide support for future fuel and technology projects with first movers and flag states in a challenging regulatory environment, ensuring our industry can continue safely and rapidly along the pathway of decarbonisation” said LR chief executive Nick Brown.

The X-DF-A range will feature high-pressure ammonia injection supplemented by a low targeted dose of pilot fuel, around 5%. Its performance and fuel efficiency will be like that of WinGD’s equivalent-sized diesel-fuelled X-Engines, in both ammonia and diesel mode. No after-treatment for N2O – a byproduct of the combustion process and powerful greenhouse gas – is anticipated by WinGD, with selective catalytic reduction assuring Tier III NOx compliance on either fuel.

WinGD sales director Volkmar Galke said, “Ammonia is set to become a mainstream sustainable marine fuel and energy carrier by mid-century, and we are delighted to be working with EXMAR to ensure the vessels carrying the cargo will be among the first to use it. Thanks to close co-operation with the owner, shipyard, engine builder Hyundai Heavy Industries and other stakeholders, WinGD’s X52DF-A will be available soon – not just for ammonia carriers but also for a range of other vessel types that can benefit from ammonia as a fuel.”

WINGD says its X-DF-A engine range will cover its entire portfolio; it has already received orders for its 72-bore model.