Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has ordered three ammonia-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers from China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, with another three held on option. To be delivered starting in 2026 at an approximate cost of $80 million each, the 210,00dwt ships will be fitted with ammonia-burning dual-fuel engines currently being developed by MAN Energy Solutions with the first engine expected to be ready by 2025.
EPS previously took delivery of the world’s first dual-fuel LNG Suezmax tanker in 2022 and has been working with MAN to develop both methanol- and ammonia-fired engines for several different ship types, including a series of 88,000m3 capacity dual-fuel ammonia carriers to be built in South Korea.
The first of these ships is to be completed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering in 2027, with the vessels to be capable of transiting the original locks at the Panama Canal rather than requiring use of the larger post-Panamax locks.