The Yara Eyde is set to begin operations in 2026 and will help reduce 11,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
The world’s first ammonia-powered container ship, Yara Eyde, will operate between Oslo, Brevik, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven, optimized for the trade corridor between Norway and Europe, Interesting Engineering reported on November 3.
Design of the ammonia-powered container ship Yara Eyde. (Photo: Yara).
The project is a collaboration between the Norwegian ammonia producer Yara International and its subsidiary Yara Clean Energy, alongside the maritime logistics company North Sea Container Line. The vessel will be operated by NCL Oslo, a company formed through the partnership of these entities.
“The green journey began with Yara Birkeland, the world’s first autonomous electric container ship, and now we continue that journey with Yara Eyde, which is expected to become the world’s first container ship powered by pure ammonia“, stated Svein Tore Holsether, CEO of Yara International.
Maritime transport contributes to 2.8% of global CO2 emissions, equivalent to 706 million tons of CO2 in 2022. Pure ammonia will help reduce emissions, allowing goods to be transported without releasing any pollutants.
“Ammonia is a non-polluting fuel. When we produce ammonia from renewable energy or natural gas, 95% of CO2 emissions can be captured and stored permanently, and pure ammonia will quickly become a viable solution for cutting carbon emissions in the maritime sector,” explained Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, head of Yara Clean Ammonia at Yara International.
A storage and refueling network is being developed in collaboration with Azane Fuel Solutions to provide pure ammonia at Norwegian ports, and eventually at ports throughout Scandinavia. This fuel network may also assist Norway in achieving its emissions reduction targets from offshore industries.
The Yara Eyde will operate on ammonia from the start, and will later be equipped with a 250 kWh battery that can connect to shore power. The new container ship will help reduce 11,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year. The Yara Eyde is expected to be operational in 2026, but the companies have not yet released further details on the exact specifications of the vessel.
