The fourth vessel among a series of five 319,000-tonne ammonia-ready ultra-large crude carriers (ULCCs), constructed by a leading Chinese shipbuilding corporation for the Belgian shipping company CMB.TECH, was successfully delivered on Wednesday, 10 June, at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. yard in Qingdao, Shandong Province, eastern China. This delivery marks the latest milestone in an ongoing strategic collaboration between Chinese shipbuilders and European maritime stakeholders to advance next-generation energy-efficient and future-fuel-capable fleet modernization.
Designed to meet stringent international environmental regulations—including the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) Phase 3 requirements—the vessel features a length of 339.5 meters and a beam of 60 meters, with a draft of 23.2 meters and a service speed of approximately 14.5 knots. Its hull form has been optimized using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and model basin testing to minimize resistance and improve fuel efficiency across varied loading conditions and sea states.
A defining feature of this ULCC is its “ammonia-ready” designation—meaning it incorporates structural, spatial, and system-level provisions to facilitate a future conversion to ammonia-fueled propulsion without requiring major hull modifications. Specifically, the vessel includes two dedicated, structurally reinforced void spaces located amidships, each sized to accommodate a 6,000-cubic-meter Type-C prismatic ammonia fuel tank. These compartments are integrated with early-stage infrastructure for cryogenic piping routing, double-walled insulation zones, gas detection networks, ventilation ducting, and emergency shutdown interfaces—all aligned with the latest guidance from classification societies such as DNV and ABS on ammonia-fueled vessel design.
In addition to ammonia readiness, the vessel is equipped with a suite of energy-saving technologies: an energy recovery system for the main engine exhaust, a waste heat recovery unit, an optimized propeller with high-efficiency nozzle, and shaft generator capability for onboard power generation during transit. It also complies with the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention and features a state-of-the-art ballast water treatment system certified to meet D-2 standards.
The first vessel of the series entered service in late 2023, and all five ships are scheduled for delivery by mid-2025. Collectively, they represent one of the largest orders of ammonia-ready ULCCs globally and reflect growing industry interest in scalable zero-carbon marine fuels—particularly ammonia, which offers high energy density per volume, established global production capacity, and potential for green synthesis via renewable-powered Haber-Bosch processes. With this delivery, the Chinese shipbuilder further demonstrates its capability to deliver complex, regulation-compliant, and future-proof vessels for international clients operating in the energy transportation sector.
Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Cgi7CrOaY7hiKGdjTEDSzQ