Yara International launches world’s first clean ammonia-powered containership
Yara Clean Ammonia, North Sea Container Line, and Yara
International have collaborated to build the world’s first containership powered
by clean ammonia.
Named Yara Eyde, the vessel will be the first to sail emission-free sea
route between Norway and Germany.
Svein Tore Holsether, President and CEO of Yara International, said: “Yara
Eyde will be the world’s first containership running on clean ammonia and is a
cross-sector collaboration enabling large-scale emission reductions ahead of the
critical 2030 climate targets.”
Yara International and Yara Clean Ammonia promote low-carbon solutions in
difficult-to-abate industries, as well as clean ammonia as a fuel in
zero-emission vessels, both new and retrofitted.
Yara Eyde will travel between Oslo, Porsgrunn, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven,
and is tailored for the commercial corridor between Norway and Germany.
According to Yara, Norwegian businesses will be able to trade
emissions-free items in and out of Norway beginning in 2026.
The fertiliser produced in Porsgrunn will be shipped emission-free to
Germany, cutting scope 3 emissions with 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
Bente Hetland of North Sea Container Line, stated: “We see an increasing
demand from cargo owners to reduce emissions. Yara Eyde offers competi-tive and
emission-free logistics to cargo owners.
“With our industrial DNA from our main shareholder Elkem, North Sea
Container Line is very pleased to see Birkeland and Eyde reunite to facilitate a
new industrial revolution. The partnership with Yara fits perfectly with our
ambitious emissions strategy, and we are pleased to see the commitment Yara has
shown to reduce emissions.”
Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, President of Yara Clean Ammonia, said: “To
succeed in decarbonising shipping, low-emission technologies must be brought to
commercial scale within the next decade. It is imperative that carriers are
incentivised to choose low-carbon fuel.
“This unique project takes a major step towards zero-emission supply chains
for Yara and demonstrates that clean ammonia will be able to provide
cost-effective and environmentally friendly maritime transport. Yara Eyde will
demonstrate the maturity of ammonia as a maritime fuel.”
Yara Clean Ammonia AS and North Sea Container Line AS are establishing a
joint venture to realise Yara Eyde, while the ship will be operated by NCL
Oslofjord AS.
The joint company intends to be the world’s first line operator to
exclusively focus on ammonia-powered containerships. Enova has reportedly given
Yara Eyde more than NOK40 million ($3.7 million), and the assistance is critical
for the project’s implementation.
In July, Yara Marine Technologies collaborated with partners to create a
semi-autonomous voyage planning system based on artificial intelligence
(AI).
