The Taiwanese shipping company U-Ming wants to include ammonia as a fuel in its fleet plans and is teaming up with the Japanese Itochu Corporation to do so.
U-Ming, which is listed on the stock exchange, and the trading group have now signed a letter of intent to this end. According to the letter, talks are to be held on the joint ownership and operation of ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers[ds_preview].
The partners expect the collaboration to play a leading role in promoting decarbonization in international shipping. U-Ming’s commercialisation of dual-fuel technology with other fuels has enabled the company to build strong relationships with major shippers, shipyards and shipping companies that could play a key role in promoting ammonia as a fuel, it said.
U-Ming operates 72 ships
The shipping company is embedding the project into its larger strategy. In addition to its own four LNG dual-fuel capesize bulk carriers, U-Ming says it is currently conducting feasibility studies on installing rotor sails, carbon capture systems and converting conventional oil fuel systems to methanol dual-fuel in its fleet. Itochu, in turn, wants to drive forward the development of a global ammonia supply chain with industry partners.
U-Ming currently owns and operates a fleet of Capesize, Panamax, Post-Panamax, Supramax and Ultramax bulkers. In addition, there are cement carriers, large crude oil tankers of the VLCC class, large ore bulkers (VLOC) and crew transfer vessels (CTV) for offshore wind farms. The fleet comprises 72 vessels with a total carrying capacity of 8.77 million tons.
