Antwerp ammonia‑fuel cargo vessel completes first commercial voyage

The 46,000 m³ gas carrier Antwerpen, built for Belgian shipowner EXMAR, completed its inaugural commercial run from China to India, delivering 30,214 tonnes of liquid ammonia. The vessel is the first ocean‑going cargo ship to operate a dual‑fuel ammonia engine in commercial service, using the main engine on ammonia while auxiliary machines run on conventional fuel. Developed with partners Hyundai Heavy Industries, WinGD, Nord Gas Solutions and Lloyd’s Register, the ship can also transport LPG. EXMAR says that when low‑carbon ammonia is used, emissions can be reduced by up to 90 % compared with diesel, though overall climate impact depends on ammonia production and auxiliary fuel use. Safety features include double‑walled piping, ventilated spaces, enhanced gas detection and a dedicated, unmanned ammonia fuel room. The successful voyage is hailed as a key milestone that moves ammonia propulsion from testing to real‑world operation and demonstrates the feasibility of low‑emission maritime transport.