Mitsubishi Shipbuilding working on ammonia-fuelled VLGCs

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), has finished the conceptual design of a very large gas carrier (VLGC) initially powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but adaptable to future use of ammonia as the main fuel, MHI said on June 9.

The company has acquired the approval in principle (AIP) for the design from the Japanese classification society ClassNK. The creation of a design enabling conversion to ammonia fuel in line with future needs is expected to permit relatively small-scale ship retrofitting when use of ammonia fuel becomes a viable option, MHI said.

In recent years Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has been conducting investigations into the potential use of ammonia fuel in VLGCs as one means of achieving carbon neutrality in the global marine industry by 2050, MHI added.