World’s first ammonia-powered box ship expected to deliver in 2026

The world’s first containership named Yara Eyde which will use pure ammonia as fuel will operate between Oslo, Brevik, Hamburg and Bremerhaven. The ship is a joint operation between Yara Clean Ammonia and the North Sea Container Line liner operator. The ship will be operating from 2026.

Sevin Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International said that the first green journey was initiated with the Yara Birkeland which was a self-driving electric container ship and now it’s Yara Eyde which runs on Ammonia.
The Haugesund-based liner will operate the ship as part of a joint venture with Yara but there is no confirmation yet on the ownership. Yara clean Ammonia will supply the vessel and with Azane Fuel solution, a storage and bunkering network is being developed to prepare pure ammonia to be made available in Norway and later to Scandinavian ports.

Magnus Krohg Anakarstarand, head of Yara Clean Ammonia stated that ammonia as fuel does not pollute when it is produced from renewable energy or with natural gas and in such cases 95% of carbon emissions are blocked and stored permanently. Yara Eyde will be the first vessel to use it and will create a benchmark for other green warrior liners.

In recent times, ammonia as shipping’s ultimate alternative fuel has been gaining a lot of traction. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a recent update of its Net Zero by 2050 report that shipping will primarily turn to ammonia to decarbonise the sector.