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Carol Yang

China’s major shipbuilder Jiangnan Shipyard delivered the world’s largest ammonia carrier on Wednesday, marking another critical milestone in the country’s push into high-value shipbuilding.
The 93,000-cubic-metre very large ammonia carrier (VLAC), named Ivy Cove, is the first vessel to be delivered from a six-ship order placed in 2023 by Singaporean shipowner Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).
The VLAC order, which is the first order EPS has placed with Jiangnan, shows Chinese shipbuilders’ active participation in global decarbonisation, the state-owned shipyard said in a press release.
The successful delivery of Ivy Cove also showcases Jiangnan’s advanced technical capabilities in the specialised liquefied gas carrier sector, the company said, given the difficulties involved in the project.
Transporting ammonia poses severe engineering challenges due to the chemical’s high density and corrosive nature, requiring higher structural and safety standards for cargo containment and weight bearing.
Ammonia is a green fuel as it emits no carbon dioxide upon combustion. Furthermore, because ammonia liquefies at a much higher temperature than hydrogen, it serves as an ideal medium to store and transport hydrogen across oceans.
Through a two-way chemical process, hydrogen can be transformed into liquid ammonia for the long journey, and then converted back into pure hydrogen upon arrival.
The relationship between the Singaporean buyer and the Chinese shipbuilder continues to deepen. After placing the original six-vessel order in 2023, EPS signed a fresh contract with Jiangnan in January for another two 90,000-cubic-metre (3.18 million cubic feet) VLACs, with deliveries scheduled for the first half of 2028.
The delivery comes amid China’s growing dominance in global shipbuilding. In the first quarter of this year, Chinese shipyards secured nearly 85 per cent of all new global vessel orders.
Already the world’s top producers of traditional bulk carriers, container ships and product oil tankers, Chinese builders are now capturing a rising share of hi-tech gas carrier orders – an area where Korean shipyards have long led the market.
On Tuesday, Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding formally started construction on the world’s largest liquefied natural gas carrier – a 271,000-cubic-metre vessel scheduled for delivery in 2028.
The vessel is part of QatarEnergy’s fleet expansion programme. Within this massive project, Hudong-Zhonghua has emerged as the single-largest builder, securing a total of 36 LNG carrier orders.


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Economy

China Economy

Global Economy

China is already the world’s dominant builder of bulk carriers and container ships. Now, it is also capturing a rising share of hi-tech gas carrier orders


China is already the world’s dominant builder of bulk carriers and container ships. Now, it is also capturing a rising share of hi-tech gas carrier orders.


China’s shipyards pass fresh milestone with delivery of vast specialised carrier

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}China is already the world’s dominant builder of bulk carriers and container ships. Now, it is also capturing a rising share of hi-tech gas carrier orders

China is already the world’s dominant builder of bulk carriers and container ships. Now, it is also capturing a rising share of hi-tech gas carrier orders