Belgian shipping company EXMAR has named the first two of six dual-fuel LPG/ammonia midsize gas carriers (MGCs) ordered through its joint venture with Seapeak.
The naming ceremony for Champagny and Courchevel was held at HD Hyundai Mipo shipyard in South Korea on January 6, 2025.
Ordered in 2022, the 46,000 cbm vessels fly the French flag. The first unit is planned to be delivered by the end of this quarter and the remaining ships sequentially by May 2026.
Following the delivery, all six gas carriers will be owned and operated by EXMAR LPG France, a new entity recently established by EXMAR.
The six newbuilds are expected to be the ‘first-ever’ oceangoing vessels to be powered by dual-fuel engines capable of operating with ammonia . Specifically, the first two units in this batch of six gas carriers will be powered by LPG dual-fuel engines while the remaining four vessels will be fueled by ammonia.
The first two MGCs have a deadweight of 29,000 and the remaining four 27,100, according to data provided by VesselsValue (Veson Nautical).
Last summer, HD Hyundai Mipo laid the keel for the first ship in question.
In related news, construction started in China in late December 2024 on the company’s new midsize gas carrier with LPG dual-fuel engines. The vessel is being built at CIMC Sinopacific shipyard.
It is part of EXMAR’s series of four 41,000 cbm LPG dual-fuel midsize gas carriers recently acquired from Norway’s shipping company Avance Gas.