Gas carrier newbuildings to receive ammonia fuel supply systems
3D rendering of the Exmar LPG’s ammonia dual-fuel mid size gas carrier (Source: Wärtsilä)
Two new 46,000m3 gas carriers under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for Exmar LPG will have fuel supply systems supplied by Wärtsilä Gas Solutions. The medium-size ships will be the first ocean-going ships to be propelled by dual-fuel engines capable of running on ammonia. The engines will be of WinGD design.
The vessels are a second pair in a four-ship series originally ordered to operate on LPG as fuel. However, last October, Exmar declared an option to change the fuel supply system on the later vessels, placing an order with Wärtsilä for systems capable of supplying ammonia as fuel. Wärtsilä booked the order earlier this year.
The technology company will supply liquid ammonia fuel supply systems, together with process engineering and dynamic simulation. The skid-mounted systems will have low- and high-pressure fuel pumps, controls for fuel pressure and temperature, and heat exchangers. Delivery is scheduled for 2025.
Carl-Antoine Saverys, Exmar CEO, commented: “There is of course a challenge to be considered when making a first-ever operational decision such as this, requiring the latest technology. Wärtsilä has the experience and technical competence to minimise this risk, which is why they were selected as a key partner in this groundbreaking project.”
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions’ head of Sales Marine, Stein Thoresen, said: “We have had long and close cooperation with both HMD and Exmar, and are proud to be part of this exciting project. When operating with ammonia fuel, the CO2 emissions will be reduced with about 90%. This is fully in line with Wärtsilä’s strategy for enabling decarbonised shipping operations and is an endorsement of our capabilities to deliver future-proof systems capable of handling a new generation of marine fuels.”
Exmar LPG is a joint venture between Exmar and Seaspeak, formerly Teekay LNG Partners.
