Hanwha Ocean Secures Order for Four Ammonia Carriers Worth 650 Billion KRW

Environmentally Friendly Ships Convertible to Ammonia Propulsion

Hanwha Ocean has opened the era of zero-carbon ships by securing an order for ammonia carriers that use ammonia as fuel.

Hanwha Ocean announced on the 14th that it had secured an order worth 656.2 billion KRW from Greece's Naftomar for four ultra-large ammonia carriers (VLAC). These vessels will be built at the Geoje shipyard and are scheduled to be delivered to the shipowner by the first half of 2027.

Hanwha Ocean Ammonia Carrier Rendering (Photo by Hanwha Ocean)

These ships can transport 93,000㎥ of ammonia, making them the largest ammonia carriers ordered worldwide to date. Ammonia is an eco-friendly fuel that emits no carbon dioxide during combustion and is attracting attention as a fuel to lead the zero-carbon era. It can be converted into hydrogen through a simple process, making it currently the most economical means of hydrogen transportation.

Hanwha Ocean has been striving to develop technology for building zero-carbon ships, having received Approval in Principle (AIP) for 86,000㎥ ammonia carriers from Bureau Veritas (BV) in September 2022 and Lloyd’s Register (LR) in October 2022.

Additionally, these vessels will incorporate Hanwha Ocean’s proud eco-friendly technologies. A shaft generator motor system (SGM), which connects a motor to the propulsion shaft to generate power and save fuel, and Hanwha Ocean’s self-developed smart ship platform (HS4) will be installed. If desired by the shipowner in the future, conversion to ammonia propulsion will also be possible.

Hanwha Ocean is focusing on the development of alternative fuels and eco-friendly technologies to lead the zero-carbon ship era. The company plans to commercialize zero-carbon ships with no carbon emissions, including ammonia propulsion, direct hydrogen propulsion, and hydrogen fuel cell propulsion.

Greece’s Naftomar is a shipping company specializing in the global transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ammonia. Having joined the Hanwha Group, it has newly established a partnership with Hanwha Ocean, which has strengthened its sales capabilities.

A Hanwha Ocean official said, "This order once again recognizes Hanwha Ocean’s eco-friendly ship technology," adding, "We will build the highest quality vessels that can lead the eco-friendly and digital sectors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.