Recently, the 1400TEU hatchless container ship independently developed and designed by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), has won an order from Belgium based shipowner CMB.TECH. It is the world’s first ammonia-powered container ship, marking another important breakthrough for the global shipping industry in the field of clean energy.
The vessel, to be named Yara Eyde, is a 1.400 TEU ice-class container ship to be built at Qingdao Yangfan Shipbuilding (Qingdao, China). Yara Clean Ammonia (YARA) and North Sea Container Line (NCL) are key partners in the project as owner and operator, and YARA is a major supplier of clean ammonia fuel.
The Yara Eyde belongs to the European inner feeder type, which mainly serves the Norwegian-German route. With an overall length of about 150 meters and a beam of about 27 meters, the container ship can carry about 1,400 standard 20-foot containers and is equipped with ammonia-fueled engines, ammonia-fueled storage tanks, supply system and refueling system. The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) meets Stage III requirements, which is about 45% below the baseline, and the Carbon Intensity Index (CII) rating is Class A, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by about 10,000 tons per year.
Featuring a number of innovative designs and a higher cargo carrying capacity, the container ship can carry containers of various sizes, including 20 feet, 26 feet, 30 feet, 40 feet and 45 feet, providing customers with a more reliable and efficient transportation solutions.
During the development of the vessel, SDARI focused on the characteristics of ammonia fuel, such as toxicity and corrosiveness, to minimize the impact of ammonia toxicity. Living quarters and cabin sheds are located as far away as possible from toxic areas to minimize potential risks to ensure the safety of those on board. Various countermeasures in case of emergencies are developed to ensure the safety and reliability of the ammonia fuel filling, storage and supply system and to avoid leakage.
