Fratelli Cosulich selects shipyard for its first ammonia bunker vessel

Fratelli CosulichFratelli Cosulich Bunkers Singapore has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co (CIMC SOE), a subsidiary of CIMC Enric Holdings, for the construction of an ammonia bunker tanker.

The deal comes almost a year after the Italian owner teamed up with compatriot classification society RINA and Singapore’s ship designer, SeaTech Solutions, to develop the vessel.

Ammonia is gaining traction as one of the potential zero-carbon fuels, with several ammonia dual-fuelled newbuilding orders being placed. The partners in the vessel’s development said earlier that having available bunkering facilities such as ammonia bunker tankers will be crucial to providing confidence to the shipping industry to embrace the alternative fuel.

CIMC SOE is currently building two LNG bunkering vessels for Fratelli Cosulich, scheduled for delivery in September 2023 and January 2024 respectively.