China Shipbuilding Corporation begins construction of ammonia-fueled container ship

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) said it has received an order from Belgium's CMB.TECH to build a container ship that will be the "world's first" to use ammonia. The ship, designed by the Shanghai Shipbuilding Institute, will have a capacity of 1,400 twenty-foot containers and will be built by Qingdao Shipyard Co Ltd. CMB.TECH plans to use "clean" ammonia on routes between Norway and Germany.

CSSC claims the new vessel will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 tonnes annually compared to conventional ships. The vessel's launch is scheduled for 2026.

Many projects have been announced worldwide for the production of “green” ammonia, which can be used not only for fertilizers, but also as an environmentally friendly fuel. Examples include Indian state oil and natural gas corporation Oil & Natural Gas Corporation's (ONGC) investment in green ammonia production, and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power's plans to build green ammonia production in Egypt.

However, the question of the "usefulness" of using ammonia as a fuel is controversial. Although carbon-free when burned, ammonia contains nitrogen, which when burned produces nitrogen oxides, including N2O, a greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential and the potential to deplete stratospheric ozone.