Yara Clean Ammonia (YCA) has signed long-term charters for two 51,000 cbm dual-fuel medium gas carriers with Navigator Amon Shipping, improving its transport capacity in the low-emission ammonia market and ensuring reliable supply routes into Northern Europe.
The 51,000 cbm vessels, fitted with dual-fuel engines and ice-class notation, are designed to operate year-round in Northern Europe while accommodating renewable and low-emission fuels. YCA said the agreement will reduce freight costs per tonne, bolster margins and enhance operational flexibility. The company said the move would help ‘future-proof’ its operations against tightening environmental rules.
Hans Olav Raen, CEO of Yara Clean Ammonia, said: ‘Building scalable, reliable supply chains is critical to unlocking the hydrogen economy. This contract is a logistical and cost-efficient way to move large volumes of ammonia to Europe, reducing operational bottlenecks and delivering economies of scale.’
Navigator Amon Shipping is a joint venture between Navigator Gas, which holds an 80% stake, and Norway’s Amon Maritime, which owns the remaining 20%. The collaboration reflects increasing industry interest in ammonia’s role as both a traded commodity and a potential zero-carbon marine fuel.
Oeyvind Lindeman, CCO of Navigator Gas, said the new agreement comes at a time of accelerating global demand for low-carbon commodities: ‘Navigator is actively expanding its work with Yara Clean Ammonia with the addition of two high-spec ammonia carriers, at a time when global demand for low carbon commodities is accelerating. Together, we are building the core infrastructure needed to facilitate the uptake of clean energy using technology that will enable compliance with present and future environmental regulations.’
Amon Maritime CEO André Risholm commented: ‘Amon Maritime was founded with a vision to lead the green shift in shipping by pioneering the use of ammonia fuel. Partnering with industry leaders such as Navigator Gas and Yara Clean Ammonia allows us to realize this vision and bring ammonia-powered transportation into commercial operation. These vessels mark an important milestone in building a carbon-free future for global shipping.’
The new charter follows YCA’s agreement earlier this year with Japan’s NYK Line for a 40,000 cbm ammonia-fuelled gas carrier, due for delivery in 2026 and billed as the world’s first of its kind. YCA already operates a fleet of 15 ships and has access to 18 ammonia terminals as well as multiple production and consumption sites worldwide.
