Yang Ming orders seven ammonia-ready container vessels from Hanwha Ocean

Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) on Tuesday (16 September) signed a shipbuilding contract with Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean for seven 16,000 TEU class LNG dual-fuel container vessels. 

The contract was signed by Mr. Chuck Tsai, Chairman of Yang Ming, and Mr. Charles Kim, CEO of Hanwha Ocean. These vessels are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029, marking a significant milestone in Yang Ming’s fleet optimisation and low-carbon transportation service.

Each with a capacity of 15,880 TEU, the newbuildings will be the first LNG dual-fuel container vessels in Taiwan to feature Ammonia Fuel Ready (AFR) specifications. 

In addition to complying with the stringent environmental requirements of the IMO, the design incorporates future conversion to ammonia dual-fuel propulsion. 

“This ensures both high operational efficiency and flexibility in alternative fuel adoption during the decarbonisation transition. The design has been granted the “Ammonia Fuel Ready Level 1C” notation by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS),” Yang Ming said in a statement. 

This vessel series will also be equipped with the world’s first Type-B LNG fuel tank with a 1.0 bar design pressure, developed under a Joint Development Project between Hanwha Ocean and ABS. This innovation enhances the safety and efficiency of LNG operations compared to the conventional 0.7 bar design, while supporting compliance with future shore-power regulations and providing a cleaner, more reliable energy transition solution.

In addition to these seven LNG dual-fuel vessels, Yang Ming has five 15,500 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels scheduled for delivery beginning in 2026. Together, this fleet of twelve LNG dual-fuel vessels will significantly increase the proportion of green-energy ships in Yang Ming’s fleet and enhance service flexibility and competitiveness across the global service network.

Ammonia is emerging as one of the promising next-generation marine fuel options due to its zero CO₂ emissions during combustion. 

“Its adoption in converted LNG tanks further lowers conversion costs, while its supply chain and infrastructure are relatively well-established,” the company added. 

Photo credit: Yang Ming Marine Transport
Published: 18 September, 2025