The world’s first container ship to run on ammonia

The Yara Eyde is anticipated to commence its operations in 2026, aiming to decrease CO2 emissions by 11,000 tons annually.

According to a report by Interesting Engineering on November 3, the Yara Eyde, recognized as the world’s premier ammonia-fueled container ship, will navigate the route connecting Oslo, Brevik, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven, specifically designed for trade between Norway and Europe.

This groundbreaking initiative is a collaborative effort between Yara International’s Yara Clean Energy subsidiary, a leading Norwegian ammonia producer, and the maritime logistics company North Sea Container Line. The operational responsibilities for the ship will be undertaken by NCL Oslo, an entity established as a result of the joint venture between the aforementioned companies.

The design of the Yara Eyde container ship runs on ammonia. (Photo: Yara).

Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International, expressed, “The green journey started with Yara Birkeland, the world’s first self-driving electric container ship, and now we continue that journey with Yara Eyde, expected to become the world’s first container ship powered by pure ammonia.”

It is noteworthy that shipping accounts for 2.8% of global CO2 emissions, totaling 706 million tons of CO2 by 2022. The use of pure ammonia as fuel is a crucial step in curbing emissions, facilitating the transportation of goods without releasing any pollutants.

Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, the head of Yara Clean Ammonia at Yara International, explained, “Ammonia is a non-polluting fuel. When we produce ammonia from renewable energy or natural gas, 95% of CO2 emissions can be captured and stored permanently, and pure ammonia will quickly become a viable solution to reduce carbon emissions in the maritime sector.”

To support this initiative, a storage and refueling network is being established in collaboration with Azane Fuel Solutions. This network will supply pure ammonia at Norwegian ports, subsequently expanding to other ports in Scandinavia. Additionally, the fuel network could aid Norway in achieving its emission reduction targets for offshore industries.

The Yara Eyde will initially operate on ammonia and later incorporate a 250 kWh battery pack, along with the capability to connect to shore power. The implementation of these measures is expected to result in a reduction of CO2 emissions by 11,000 tons annually. While the Yara Eyde is scheduled to commence operations in 2026, detailed specifications about the ship have not been disclosed by the collaborating companies.