CIP taps Færder Tankers and BW Epic Kosan to develop ammonia carrier fleet

November 27, 2024, by Ajsa Habibic

Renewable energy investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its Energy Transition Fund (ETF), has signed multiple memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with shipping companies to advance the development of ammonia-fueled carriers.

The agreements were signed with Norwegian shipping company Færder Tankers and Singapore-based ship owner and operator BW Epic Kosan, a subsidiary of BW Group.

According to CIP, these agreements and partnerships aim to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of clean ammonia for both deep-sea transportation and local distribution.

The first MoU with Færder Tankers entails the development of a 50,000 cubic meter (cbm) ammonia carrier equipped with a dual-fuel ammonia engine. The vessel will also feature high maneuverability with retractable bow thruster and aft thruster as well as ship-to-ship bunkering capabilities.

The first vessel is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2028, joining the future fleet of ammonia carriers that will meet the transportation and bunkering demands of CIP’s inaugural clean ammonia projects, with an objective to facilitate the green transportation of clean ammonia by utilizing the cargo as fuel.

The second MoU will see BW Epic Kosan develop handy-sized ammonia carriers equipped with dual-fuel ammonia engines and bunkering capabilities.

The ship owner will time charter a number of dual-fuel ammonia gas carriers ranging from 9,000 cbm to 35,000 cbm to ETF or its subsidiaries.

CIP said it is also in advanced discussions with major shipping operators to develop very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) for its large-scale projects, highlighting ETF’s dedication to delivering comprehensive, end-to-end solutions for ammonia-fueled tankers.

Niels H. Lindegaard, Senior Business Advisor at CIP, commented: “Our objective is to facilitate the green transportation of clean ammonia by utilizing the cargo as fuel. Partnering with innovative shipping companies like BW Epic Kosan and Færder Tankers is crucial to achieving this goal and to lead in the field of clean ammonia. The dialogue with leading companies has given us valuable industry insights and the ability to develop safe and robust end-to-end bunkering solutions as well as first-hand knowledge about critical developments and maturity of solutions.”