China's first ammonia-dual-fuel gas carriers named in Guangzhou

China's first ammonia-dual-fuel gas carriers were named Andre M and Gas Coral at a ceremony on Wednesday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, ahead of their delivery to Southwest Maritime Limited by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

The two 25,000-cubic-meter LPG and liquid ammonia vessels can cut full-lifecycle emissions by 61 percent compared with conventional LNG-dual-fuel carriers, according to a statement from Huangpu Wenchong. They are designed to carry multiple liquefied gas cargoes and operate in temperatures as low as -50 C, with seamless switching between ammonia fuel and diesel modes.

Ammonia releases no carbon dioxide upon combustion, making it an increasingly attractive shipping fuel, though its toxicity and flammability present construction and safety management challenges that Huangpu Wenchong said it had overcome during the build.