Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) plans to order an ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel gas tanker as part of its decarbonisation efforts.
The firm has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the new carrier.
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The vessel will be registered under the Singapore flag, classed by ABS and constructed at HHI in South Korea.
It will feature a G60 two-stroke dual-fuel ammonia engine supplied by MAN Energy Solutions.
EPS stated that the ammonia-based vessels it currently has on order ‘will be able to switch from other alternative marine fuels but will still require a major engine retrofit once ammonia engines become commercially accessible’.
The use of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel is expected to help cut down carbon dioxide emissions significantly.
EPS CEO Cyril Ducau said: “We believe that our industry will need to rely on multiple solutions to steadily lower and eventually eliminate emissions.
“That’s why it is critical for us to constantly invest and develop various alternative marine fuels in order to offer the right solution to the right segment at the right time.”
Last month, EPS took delivery of STL Yangtze, the first of six very large ethane carriers (VLEC), from HHI.
All six vessels will have a dual-fuel ethane propulsion feature to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
