MOL inks charter contract with Yara

Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has inked a time charter contract with Yara Clean Ammonia Switzerland part of part of Norwegian fertilizer maker Yara for the ammonia carrier Green Pioneer.

The 2010-built 34,500 cu m vessel is expected to be engaged in the transportation of ammonia, mainly in the Pacific region. The unit, managed by MOL Tankship in Singapore was recently delivered, but no further details about the contract have been disclosed.

The charter follows a memorandum of understanding signed by the companies in 2022 to work on decarbonisation projects including the ammonia sector.

MOL said both companies would look to build a long-term partnership in the clean ammonia field and “actively expand their business to build an ammonia supply chain”.

MOL was previously active in the ammonia trades through to 2016. It reentered the business with the addition of Green Pioneer, formerly known as Gaschem Hamburg in 2021, and has since worked on the development of large-size ammonia carriers, floating storage and regasification units as well and ammonia-fuelled ships.