The Belgium based CMB.TECH NV (CMBT) and Japanese headquartered Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and MOL CHEMICAL TANKERS PTE. LTD. (MOLCT) announce their ordering of nine ammonia-powered newbuild vessels.
The companies informed that these vessels will be among the world’s first ammonia-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers and chemical tankers.
The order is for three ammonia-fitted 210.000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriers currently on order at Qingdao Beihai Shipyard will be jointly owned by CMB.TECH and MOL and chartered to MOL for a period of 12 years each.
Furthermore, also ordered is six chemical tankers, two ammonia fitted and four ammonia-ready, have been ordered at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) by CMB.TECH and chartered to MOLCT for 10 and 7 years each respectively.
The Newcastlemaxes will be delivered in 2026 and 2027, whilst the chemical tankers’ delivery is expected in 2028 and 2029, as the companies informs.
Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH says to the ordering that ”We are proud and honoured to sign this landmark agreement with MOL and MOLCT, one of the most respected shipowners in the world. MOL and CMB.TECH share the same vision of decarbonising the maritime industry, and the partnership for these nine vessels is a major milestone towards achieving shipping industry’s goals of net zero emissions by 2050. Thanks to this agreement, CMB.TECH increases its contract backlog by 921 million USD (to USD 2.94 billion USD), clearly demonstrating that our strategy of fleet rejuvenation, decarbonisation and diversification is yielding tangible results.”
