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Alternative Fuels

DNV issues AiP to Navigator Gas for a ammonia fuelled gas carrier newbuild

New gas carrier design has been awarded the AiP based on the special features notation (GF NH3) under DNV’s new rules for the use of ammonia as fuel in gas carriers.
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Classification society DNV on Friday (17 September) said it has awarded Navigator Gas an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a new ammonia fuelled gas carrier design.

An industry wide consortium, including MAN Energy solutions, Babcock International, and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), has collaborated with Navigator Gas to achieve the Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV. 

The new gas carrier design has been awarded the AiP based on the special features notation (GF NH3) under DNV’s new rules for the use of ammonia as fuel in gas carriers. DNV, alongside the NMA, reviewed the design and relevant documentation and found no potential showstoppers to its realisation.

“Navigator Gas has been discussing Ammonia as a fuel with our consortium partners since 2018, when this topic was on the fringes of discussions surrounding decarbonisation and the use of alternative fuels,” says Paul Flaherty, Technical Advisor to Navigator Gas.

“Those early discussions on feasibility led to the completion of a comprehensive HAZID in early 2019, which remains as valid today as it was then. This has also been used as the base safety case during our AiP discussions with DNV. 

“Since our discussions began, we have witnessed an exponential increase in the number of projects around the globe looking at Hydrogen and Ammonia as carbon free source of energy. We have also been engaging with our customers and business partners to discuss their carbon free shipping requirements for transporting Blue/Green Ammonia to their customers.”

“Obtaining an AiP from DNV for an Ammonia fuelled vessels is the first step in preparing Navigator Gas to meet the future demands of our customers and to reduce our carbon footprint through lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“In the longer term, using Ammonia as fuel is one of Alternative Fuels options we are pursuing, along with CCS, Carbon Offsetting and improved Vessel Optimisation to reduce our carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

“I would like to thank DNV, MAN Energy Solutions, Babcock International and the Norwegian Maritime Authority, for their unwavering support and input during the AiP process,” he ends.

“We are very pleased to be working with Navigator Gas and so many leading companies on this AiP,” says Torgeir Sterri, Senior Vice President, Regional Manager West Europe, DNV Maritime. 

“If our industry is going to continue to play a central role in the global economy, we need to be exploring all options that can get us further towards decarbonisation.

“At the same time, we recognise that for our customers, how to tackle the decarbonisation challenge is going to be most challenging and significant decision they are likely to make this decade. This is why we have created class notations and guideline that give them the flexibility to find the path that fits their operations and business.”

Andrew Scott, Business Development Director, Babcock LGE comments:
“This ammonia as a fuel concept design is supported by Babcock LGE’s operational experience of delivering Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) fuel supply systems and carrying ammonia as a cargo on gas carriers, meaning specific issues occurring when utilising ammonia as a fuel are well understood, resulting in an inherently safe design.”

“Babcock LGE is enabling the transition towards a cleaner, sustainable future through innovative technologies, and we are delighted to be working with our partners in this significant project.”

Thomas S. Hansen, Head of Promotion and Customer Support, MAN Energy Solutions explains:
“MAN Energy Solutions is happy to work with industry partners in decarbonising the maritime economy where, for us, the path starts with fuel decarbonisation. Here, several zero-carbon fuels offer significant potential, with ammonia of especial interest.”

“Since large quantities of ammonia are already transported around the world, it is a well-established commodity and using it to power ships would be a natural step.

“In this context, we have already announced that we expect to be make a dual-fuel, two-stroke ammonia engine commercially available for large-scale ocean-going ships by 2024, followed by a retrofit package to make existing maritime vessels capable of running on ammonia by 2025.”

Lars Alvestad, acting Director of Shipping and Navigation, Norwegian Maritime Authority notes:
“We are proud to be a part of this project and it has given us vital input on how to handle the safety concerns when using ammonia as fuel. Ammonia could play an important role in the decarbonisation of shipping and therefore the safety concerns have to be addressed.”

“This project shows that it’s possible to manage some of the challenges within decarbonisation through good cooperation.”

 

Photo credit: Navigator Gas
Published: 20 September, 2021

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LNG Bunkering

Singapore-based EPS takes delivery of three LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers

Three vessels are the third, fourth and fifth in the company’s series of 14 Newcastlemaxes being built at the yard, and were delivered five months ahead of their contracted delivery dates.
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Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) on Friday (4 September) announced the naming and delivery of three new LNG dual-fuel Newcastlemax bulk carriers from China’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. 

Cyril Ducau, CEO of EPS, said the vessels were named Mount Victoria, Mount Yulong and Mount Wuyi. 

The three vessels are the third, fourth and fifth in the company’s series of 14 Newcastlemaxes being built at the yard, and were delivered five months ahead of their contracted delivery dates.

“A big thank you to CSSC Group and Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, working alongside our EPS team, for the tremendous collaboration and commitment behind this achievement,” Ducau said in a social media post.  

 

Photo credit: Eastern Pacific Shipping
Published: 7 September, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

LR awards AiP to CSSC Huangpu Wenchong for 12,500 m³ LNG bunker vessel design

Vessel design incorporates Type C LNG cargo tanks and has been evaluated against a range of class notations covering gas operations, automation, environmental performance and cyber resilience.
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Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Thursday (3 September) said it has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for a new 12,500 m³ LNG bunkering vessel design.

The AiP was signed at SMM 2026 in Hamburg and confirms that the vessel concept has successfully completed an independent design assessment against LR’s latest classification requirements.

The new 12,500 m³ vessel design incorporates Type C LNG cargo tanks and has been evaluated against a comprehensive range of class notations covering gas operations, automation, environmental performance and cyber resilience.

LR’s assessment was carried out in accordance with its Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Ships and Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of Ships for the Carriage of Liquefied Gas in Bulk.

Constantinos Chaelis, LR’s Global Gas Segment Director, said: “This project demonstrates the continued market confidence in LNG and the importance of building the supporting infrastructure that enables owners to make practical emissions reductions today, while maintaining flexibility for the future. Through early engagement between shipyard and class, we can accelerate the delivery of robust designs that meet both operational and regulatory requirements.”

A Huangpu Wenchong spokesperson, said: “This Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register validates the technical approach and provides a strong foundation for future development. We believe vessels of this type will play an increasingly important role in supporting the energy transition by helping ensure LNG is available where shipowners need it most.”

 

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 7 September, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

DNV at SMM: Chinese shipbuilders, European owners seek closer ties on alternative bunker fuels

Chinese shipbuilders and European shipowners called for closer collaboration on vessel development, alternative fuels and digitalization during the inaugural China-Europe Maritime Summit at SMM 2026.

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Chinese shipbuilders and European shipowners called for closer collaboration on vessel development, alternative fuels and digitalization during the inaugural China-Europe Maritime Summit at SMM 2026, according to classification society DNV on Friday (4 September). 

The summit, jointly organized by the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI), the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) and DNV, brought together leaders from two maritime sectors that collectively shape a significant share of the global fleet. 

Energy efficiency, operational flexibility and digital innovation were highlighted as key areas for the industry as it navigates decarbonization targets, evolving regulation and uncertainty around future fuel pathways.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, Group President and CEO at DNV, said: “Gathering leaders from across Chinese shipbuilding, European shipping and the wider maritime value chain in one room is both timely and important. The decisions being made across our industry today will shape shipping for decades to come, and this summit demonstrates a shared commitment to shaping the future of our industry together.”

Xu Peng, Chairman of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), said: “China and Europe’s maritime sectors share aligned missions, complementary strengths and promising prospects. This summit can serve as a starting point for deeper cooperation between China’s shipbuilding industry and Europe’s shipping community, and help broaden the boundaries of full‑chain collaboration and build an interconnected ecosystem.”

Dr. Gaby Bornheim, President of the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR), said: “For shipowners, a new vessel is never an investment for the next quarter. It is a commitment for decades. Long-term investments require trusted partnerships, and many of the world’s most advanced commercial vessels are the result of cooperation between European shipowners and Chinese shipbuilders. Excellence is rarely achieved in isolation.”

China’s shipbuilding industry accounts for around 70% of the global orderbook, while European shipowners operate more than one-third of the world’s fleet capacity. As the global shipping industry faces increased uncertainty, finding solutions that provide flexibility is essential. 

The summit featured two high-level panel discussions moderated by Dr. Martin Kröger, CEO of VDR, and Li Yanqing, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CANSI, bringing together senior executives from leading Chinese shipbuilders, including China Merchants Industry (CMI), Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI), alongside European shipowners and operators such as Vogemann Reederei, Briese Schiffahrt, Bernhard Schulte, MPC Containerships, and Grieg Edge, as well as DNV. 

Discussions further highlighted the importance of close China-Europe collaboration to support shipping’s transformation.

 

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 7 September, 2026

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