The shipping company calls the 'Mineral Europa' the start of the 'fifth propulsion revolution' in shipping, highlighting that powering ships with green ammonia is only the first step in a bigger process.

The shipping company calls the 'Mineral Europa' the start of the 'fifth propulsion revolution' in shipping, highlighting that powering ships with green ammonia is only the first step in a bigger process.

The shipping company calls the 'Mineral Europa' the start of the 'fifth propulsion revolution' in shipping, highlighting that powering ships with green ammonia is only the first step in a bigger process.

Belgian shipowner CMB.TECH on Friday announced that its Mineral Europa (IMO: 1029302), the world's first ammonia-powered bulk carrier, has completed sea trials, and has set sail on its maiden voyage to Australia.

This marks a major push for decarbonisation across the global maritime sector, as the new green ammonia ships will slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to a very small amount—to be used just as pilot fuel in the combustion process.

Built by the Qingdao Beihai Shipyard—which builds the company's Europa-class ships—the 210,000-dwt Capesize dry bulk ship is en route from Qingdao in China to Australia, under charter from the mining company Fortescue.

It will be bunkered with about 1,000 metric tonnes of green ammonia, a CMB.TECH spokesperson told maritime news outlet Riviera.

The Belgian-flagged dual-fuel bulk carrier is now the first among 12 such vessels for BOCIMAR, CMB.TECH’s dry bulk division, that will be chartered by Fortescue.

Up to three such ships with dual-fuel ammonia engines and are expected to enter service by the end of 2026, while nine others will be delivered ammonia-ready, which can be modified to run on green ammonia in the future.

The shipping company calls it the "fifth propulsion revolution" in shipping, and highlights that powering ships with green ammonia is only the first step in a bigger process.

This bigger process is building the fuel ecosystem that will ultimately make cleaner fuels like green ammonia cheaper and more accessible than diesel. It is also investing in ammonia storage solutions and bunker barges to ensure that this green fuel can be delivered safely and efficiently to ocean-going ships.

The Mineral Europa is also the first in the shipping company's plans to introduce a new generation of ammonia-powered vessels across several of its divisions.

In that regard, 21 ammonia-powered ships—18 dry bulk carriers, two chemical tankers, and one container ship—have been scheduled for delivery in the coming months; well into 2029.

"At a time when the need to decarbonise shipping and strengthen energy independence has never been greater, our technology and our ships are a game changer for shipping ... We decarbonise today to navigate tomorrow," explained Alexander Saverys, the CEO of CMB.TECH.

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