Australian company Fortescue and Belgian maritime firm CMB.TEC have formed a strategic partnership to develop a 210,000 deadweight ton Newcastlemax , equipped with a dual-fuel engine using ammonia as its primary power source.
Fortescue and CMB.TECH’s ammonia-powered vessel
The new vessel will be built at the Qingdao Beihai Shipyard and delivered by the end of 2026. Its primary purpose is to transport iron ore from Fortescue’s operations in the Pilbara, Australia, to major customers in China and other global markets. This route will be served by a vessel that represents a technological leap forward in maritime sustainability.
Fortescue has set a goal of eliminating Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its Australian mining operations by 2030. However, its most complex challenge lies in Scope 3 , the reduction of emissions associated with shipping and the logistics chain. This agreement with CMB.TECH strengthens its commitment to green ammonia as a long-term energy solution.
Our historic agreement with Bocimar sends a clear signal to the market: the time has come for shipowners to invest in environmentally friendly vessels powered by ammonia.
Ships running on dirty fuel, which accounts for 3% of global carbon emissions, have their days numbered.
We continue to implore shipping regulators to show the character and leadership necessary to ensure this happens as soon as possible.
Our agreement with Bocimar is just the beginning. With Fortescue Green Pioneer, we’ve demonstrated that the technology to decarbonize shipping already exists.
We will continue to work with like-minded companies like Bocimar to transition our fleet to low- and zero-emission vessels and help accelerate the widespread adoption of green ammonia as a marine fuel.
Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto.
This announcement follows the recent international tour of the Fortescue Green Pioneer , the world’s first dual-engine ammonia vessel , which has been visiting key ports to showcase the viability of these solutions. The synergy between Fortescue and CMB.TECH aims to accelerate the development of green ammonia production projects and inspire other industry players.
Fortescue and Bocimar have been close partners for over 20 years. We share the same values and are both passionate about decarbonizing the maritime industry.
Based on our shared belief that green ammonia is the fuel of the future, we have been able to conclude this important agreement on the path to zero-emission shipping.
This is the beginning of an exciting journey to build more ammonia-powered vessels that will stimulate more green ammonia production projects.
We need to decarbonize today, to sail tomorrow!
Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH.
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Photo: Fortescue
