Viridis seeks to make ammonia mainstream in the north European short-sea market

Norwegian shipping company Viridis Bulk Carriers is set to place orders for ammonia-fuelled bulk carriers to be deployed in northern Europe.

PHOTO: A concept model of Viridis Bulk Carriers' ammonia-fuelled vessel. Viridis Bulk Carriers

Viridis expects to order the vessels in 2023, and for deliveries to start in 2025.

The company recently signed a deal with Norwegian logistics company Stema Shipping to join its ammonia-fuelled bulk carrier project, which takes the number of charterers in the project to eight.

The other charterers are Elkem, Vestkorn, Yara, BioMar, Franzefoss Minerals, Viken AT Market and Saltimport.

Viridis says these eight charterers ship significant cargo volumes in the northern European short-sea bulk market. They seek to bring down the cost of ammonia as a fuel while reducing vessel emissions over short distances.

These ammonia-fuelled vessels will be similar to conventional short-sea bulk vessels in terms of sailing range, and cargo and crew capacity.

Viridis is part of the Ammonia Fuel Bunkering Network that aims to develop an ammonia bunkering network in Scandinavia in partnership with Norway’s Yara International, one of the world’s biggest ammonia producers.

Norwegian companies have been actively exploring and developing ways to use ammonia as a future clean fuel.

Earlier this month, Norwegian shipowner Amon Maritime revealed its intentions to build and operate a fleet of ammonia-powered offshore platform supply vessels (PSV) on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Also, Yara Clean Ammonia is testing a new way of producing the green ammonia through a technology being developed by fellow Norwegian tech company Hystar.

By Tuhin Roy

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