Shanghai Yangtze, a liquefied gas carrier specifically designed for loading, completed the commercial loading operation of green ammonia on October 13, 2026, at the Zhujiang port in Jiangsu province, China. This operation, recognized as the world's first commercial loading of green ammonia, involved the transfer of 1,000 tons of green ammonia to the ship Mineral Europa, an ammonia-powered vessel owned by the Belgian maritime group CMB.TECH.
The Importance of Green Ammonia in the Shipping Industry
Ammonia plays a vital role as a marine fuel in transitioning the shipping industry away from fossil fuels. Particularly in deep-sea sectors where direct electrification is not feasible, ammonia can be a suitable option. When produced using renewable energy, ammonia provides a means for maritime transport without the greenhouse gas emissions of CO₂ from fuels.
Development of Ammonia Loading Infrastructure
Ammonia-powered ships require safe and reliable infrastructure for transporting, storing, and delivering fuel. The commercial loading conducted by Shanghai Yangtze is an important step towards the availability of green ammonia as a marine fuel on a large scale. This loading demonstrates the operational capabilities of the ship in the field of ammonia fuel transfer.
The development of this ship as an ammonia carrier was carried out in close collaboration with Jiangsu Andefu Energy Development and the China Classification Society. This process included modifications to the loading system, the development of operational procedures, risk assessments, and the establishment of safety measures and emergency response protocols. Special attention was given to ammonia poisoning, material compatibility, operations at low temperatures, leak detection, and risk control during loading.
After completing its conversion in August 2026, Shanghai Yangtze received first-class certification for liquid ammonia loading from a classification society. This loading in Zhujiang demonstrated the ship's capabilities in practice. Green ammonia was transferred by Shanghai Yangtze from the Andefu ammonia storage facility in Nanjing to Zhujiang, completing the supply chain that included production, land transport, storage, maritime transport, and ship-to-ship loading.
This project is a real example of how an existing ammonia gas carrier can be transformed into an operational asset in the loading field. This action also contributes to establishing the necessary infrastructure for transitioning the shipping industry to clean fuels.
