Grimaldi has 15 vessels on order with future ammonia conversion options - FerPress

Grimaldi Group's total orders for ammonia-ready car carriers now stand at 15, according to a report from Italian press agency FerPress.

PHOTO: Design concept of Grimaldi Group’s PCTC. Grimaldi Group

Last week, the Neapolitan shipping firm ordered five ammonia-ready Pure Car & Truck Carrier (PCTC) newbuilds from China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) subsidiaries for $630 million.

Ammonia-ready means that the vessels will likely run on conventional fuels for now, until they are converted to be able to consume ammonia. There are currently no ships in operation with engines that can run on pure ammonia.

In September last year, Finnish ship engine manufacturer Wartsila launched a dual-fuelled four-stroke engine can operate on diesel, LNG, biogas and biofuel, with an option for upgrades to use carbon neutral fuels such as ammonia in the future.

Wärtsilä is expected to reveal its first ammonia engine prototype this year, followed by a commercial roll-out "soon thereafter".

German engine maker MAN Energy Solutions is currently developing a two-stroke ammonia engine for large container ships and aims to make it commercially available in 1-2 years. The company is also poised to develop retrofit ammonia engine options for ships by 2025.

Swiss marine engine maker WinGD has partnered with South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries to develop a dual-fuelled ammonia engine by 2025.

By Konica Bhatt

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