The “Jane Maersk” is designed to carry ammonia and liquefied gas. The vessel was built at the HD Hyundai Samho shipyard as the first of ten new VLACs.
Maersk awarded the contract to HD Hyundai Samho in November 2023. There is an option for up to ten new vessels, with five set to be built. The first “Very Large Ammonia Carrier” (VLAC) is now under way: The 221-metre-long ‘Jane Maersk’ has a capacity of 93,000m³ and flies the Danish flag. The German company Everllence (still known as MAN Energy Solutions at the time the contract was awarded) was also involved in the development of the engines.
The tankers are fitted with special safety systems to ensure the safe transport of highly toxic and corrosive ammonia. These include, for example, an alarm system designed to monitor the fill level and minimise the risk of overloading.
Ammonia – originally used primarily as a fertiliser – has recently been gaining in importance: on the one hand as a carrier for hydrogen, and on the other as a fuel. It is regarded as a low- to zero-emission option, provided that it is also produced using renewable energy. One of the advantages in production is that, unlike other alternatives, there are already ammonia production facilities worldwide, which makes a strong case for its industrial use as a fuel. However, as the compound (NH₃) is toxic, its transport requires specialised gas tankers.
HD Hyundai Samho is positioning itself as a major player in this growing market. This year, the South Korean shipyard has already secured orders for nine further VLACs. As reported by *The Maritime Executive*, its fleet currently comprises 22 vessels with a total value of $2.55 billion.
