South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Mipo has laid the keel for the first of six new 46,000 cubic meter (cbm) midsize LPG/ammonia carriers ordered by EXMAR LPG, a joint venture between EXMAR and Seapeak.
EXMAR shared this construction milestone via social media on July 3. The delivery of the vessel is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.
The first two units in this six-vessel series will be powered by LPG dual-fuel engines while the remaining four vessels will be fueled by ammonia.
EXMAR medium-sized gas carriers will be the first-ever oceangoing vessels to be propelled by dual-fuel engines capable of operating with ammonia, with engines to be provided by Swiss engine company WinGD .
Finnish technology group Wärtsilä will deliver the cargo handling and fuel supply systems for the four ammonia-fueled vessels.
The vessels, measuring 190 meters in length, 30.4 meters in width, and 18.8 meters in height, will be delivered sequentially to Exmar by May 2026.
Adopting ammonia-based propulsion aligns with stringent International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations, which mandate a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a complete carbon dioxide emissions reduction by 2050.
Ammonia emits zero carbon dioxide when burned and is emerging as a leading fuel option for the decarbonization of the maritime industry in the long term.