Yara Clean Ammonia Switzerland SA (Yara Clean Ammonia), a subsidiary of Yara International ASA (Yara) and the world’s largest ammonia distributor, has signed a groundbreaking time-charter contract with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) for an ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC). The vessel, set for delivery in November 2026, marks a significant milestone in sustainable maritime transport.
Since 2021, Yara Clean Ammonia and NYK have collaborated on the practical application of ammonia-fueled ammonia gas carriers. This partnership has now resulted in the world’s first time-charter contract for an AFMGC—one of the most widely used vessel types for international ammonia transportation.
By deploying an AFMGC, both companies aim to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from marine transport while supporting the development of a sustainable ammonia supply chain. As global demand for ammonia increases—particularly in power generation and as a marine fuel—this initiative represents a crucial step toward cleaner and more efficient logistics.
Industry Leaders on the Agreement
Murali Srinivasan, Senior Vice President of Commercial at Yara Clean Ammonia, highlighted the strategic impact of the partnership: “Our collaboration with NYK not only ensures compliance with future CO₂ regulations for sea-going vessels but also guarantees that our customers receive clean ammonia with carbon-intensity compliance throughout the supply chain—from well to wake.”
Csaba Laszlo, Vice President of Ammonia Trade & Shipping at Yara Clean Ammonia, emphasized the operational benefits: “This charter agreement provides us with greater flexibility to manage carbon emissions and product carbon intensity. I look forward to successfully operating this next-generation technology at peak efficiency.”
Hironobu Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer at NYK, reinforced the company’s long-term sustainability vision: “In November 2023, we released the ‘NYK Group Decarbonization Story,’ outlining our goal of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. The development of ammonia-fueled vessels is critical to this mission, and we are delighted to partner with Yara Clean Ammonia, the world’s largest ammonia distributor. This collaboration underscores our commitment to building a robust ammonia supply chain—not just in maritime transport but across multiple sectors.”
As the maritime industry intensifies its efforts toward decarbonization, the introduction of ammonia-fueled vessels represents a breakthrough. With Yara Clean Ammonia and NYK leading the way, the transition to cleaner shipping solutions is accelerating, setting new standards for sustainability in global logistics.
