Ammonia-Fuelled Ships Hit 46 Orders as Industry Bets on Zero-Carbon Future
CMB.TECH and Fortescue sign charter for 12 ammonia-capable Newcastlemax bulkers.
The shipping industry is accelerating its shift to ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel, with 46 ammonia-fuelled vessels now on order, up from 39 last October, according to classification society DNV. The latest milestone comes as Belgium’s CMB.TECH and Australian mining giant Fortescue sign a charter agreement for up to 12 ammonia-capable Newcastlemax bulk carriers, three of which will be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines by the end of 2026.
If powered by green ammonia, the combined fleet could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 250,000 tonnes a year, a figure that underscores the fuel’s potential to decarbonise maritime transport at scale. The agreement follows a similar deal struck in March 2025 between CMB.TECH and Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K.
“This agreement marks an important step in showcasing ammonia as a viable marine fuel and advancing the transition to zero-emission shipping,” said Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH. “It also sends a powerful signal to the market, particularly at a time when there is doubt about the decarbonization of shipping: our sector can decarbonize at scale. It just takes like-minded, determined partners who walk the talk.”
CMB.TECH
“This agreement marks an important step in showcasing ammonia as a viable marine fuel and advancing the transition to zero-emission shipping. It also sends a powerful signal to the market, particularly at a time when there is doubt about the decarbonization of shipping: our sector can decarbonize at scale. It just takes like-minded, determined partners who walk the talk.”
Alexander Saverys·CEO of CMB.TECH
The Newcastlemax bulkers, each with a deadweight of 210,000 tonnes, will be built by China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. The first three vessels are expected to enter service by the end of 2026, while the remaining nine will be ammonia-ready, allowing for future conversion.
Early Adopters and Market Signals: ammonia-fuelled vessels
Fortescue and CMB.TECH are among the early adopters of ammonia-fuelled shipping technology. Fortescue has already converted an offshore support vessel to run on ammonia, while CMB.TECH celebrated the naming of four ammonia-capable bulkers earlier this year. One of these, the Mineral Latvija, a 210,000 dwt vessel measuring 300 metres in length, departed on its maiden voyage to Port Hedland, Australia, in June.
The current orderbook for ammonia-fuelled vessels stretches to 2030, with 37 vessels expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. However, the pace of adoption has slowed due to regulatory uncertainties and the limited availability of green ammonia supply chains.
Exmar recently took delivery of the first ammonia-fuelled newbuild tanker, the Antwerpen, while Fortescue has also converted two tugs in Japan and the United States to run on ammonia.
In parallel, traditional shipping segments continue to evolve. The Netherlands’ Royal T Shipyards recently launched the Heleen C, a shortsea cargo vessel ordered by UK shipping company Carisbrooke. The vessel, with a deadweight of over 7,000 tonnes and a cargo hold capacity of more than 9,300 cubic metres, is part of a series of multi-purpose dry cargo ships already in operation with Dutch shipping company Vertom Group.
Some industry analysts argue that the fuel’s toxicity and the energy-intensive process required to produce green ammonia could limit its scalability. Others point to methanol and hydrogen as more immediate solutions. However, proponents of ammonia, including CMB.TECH and Fortescue, believe that its potential to deliver zero-carbon shipping at scale makes it a critical component of the industry’s decarbonisation strategy.
As the orderbook for ammonia-fuelled vessels grows, the industry’s ability to overcome technical, regulatory, and logistical hurdles will determine whether ammonia can live up to its promise as the fuel of the future. For now, the partnership between CMB.TECH and Fortescue serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved when like-minded companies commit to walking the talk on decarbonisation.
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