Construction of the “Yara Eyde” has begun in China. It is the world’s first container ship to run entirely on ammonia as fuel.
The “Yara Eyde” will be the world’s first container ship to be powered purely by ammonia. For the companies involved, Yara Clean Ammonia, Yara International, CMB.Tech and North Sea Container Line, the start of construction represents an “important step in maritime decarbonization”. The feeder ship (1,400 TEU) will be built at the Chinese shipyard Qingdao Yangfan Shipbuilding and is scheduled to be launched in 2026.
According to Yara Clean Ammonia, one of the world’s largest traders of ammonia, the “Yara Eyde” will do nothing less than “revolutionize short-sea shipping and demonstrate the potential of ammonia as a low-emission fuel”, the company announced. According to current information, the ship will operate on the route between Oslo, Porsgrunn, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam. The aim is to connect industrial clusters through sustainable maritime logistics with reduced emissions.
“This is more than just the start of construction of a ship – it is the beginning of a new chapter in maritime decarbonization,” said Hans Olav Raen, CEO of Yara Clean Ammonia. “The ‘Yara Eyde’ embodies our ambition to enable low-emission ammonia in shipping and inspire the industry to find solutions to reduce emissions.”
Oslo-based Yara Clean Ammonia operates a fleet of 15 vessels and has access to 18 ammonia terminals and numerous production and consumption sites worldwide through fertilizer manufacturer Yara. Last year, the company generated revenues of $1.8 billion and EBITDA of $117 million.
“North Sea Container Line has always strived to offer competitive and sustainable logistics solutions. The ‘Yara Eyde’ is a perfect example of how close collaboration along the value chain can bring cutting-edge technology to commercial operations and deliver tangible benefits to both cargo owners and customers,” said Bente Hetland, CEO of North Sea Container Line, at the start of construction.
