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HD Heavy Hyundai Industries builds ammonia-powered ships for Exmar

Published: 09 Apr. 2026, 12:07 Updated: 09 Apr. 2026, 19:56

LEE JAE-LIM
[email protected]

Attendees pose for a commemorative photo at the naming ceremony for ammonia-powered carriers held on April 9 at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Ulsan shipyard. From front row, far left, Joo Won-ho, president of naval & medium size ships business unit at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; seventh from left, Nicolas Saverys, chairman of Exmar; third from right, H.E. Bruno Jans, ambassador of Belgium to Korea. [HD HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES]

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced on Thursday it has completed construction of the world's first commercial ammonia-powered vessels built for the Belgian shipping company Exmar.

The vessels are the first two of four midsize ammonia-powered gas carriers ordered by Exmar LPG France, a subsidiary of Exmar, in 2023 and 2024. The ships have been named Antwerpen and Arlon after Belgian cities.

Delivery for one is scheduled for May, and the other’s for late July, following the final outfitting.

The 46,000-cubic-meter (1.6 million-cubic-feet) vessels measure 190 meters (623.4 feet) in length, 30.4 meters in beam and 18.8 meters in height. Each ship is equipped with three cargo tanks developed using HD HHI’s proprietary technology, enabling the safe transport of liquefied gases, including ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas.

The ships are fitted with shaft generators that produce electricity using the propulsion system, as well as selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

They also feature advanced safety systems, including real-time ammonia leak detection and an ammonia purge recovery unit.

Ammonia, a carbon-free fuel, can be stored either under moderate pressure or at relatively low temperatures without the need for cryogenic technology. In liquid form, it offers around 1.7 times the volumetric energy density of liquid hydrogen, making it suitable for long-distance transport and large-scale storage.

According to the International Energy Agency, ammonia is projected to account for 8 percent of marine fuel demand by 2030 — rising to 46 percent by 2050 under its net-zero emissions road map — pointing to growing demand for ammonia-powered vessels.

HD HHI held a naming ceremony at its Ulsan shipyard on Thursday, attended by about 70 guests, including Joo Won-ho, the president of its naval & medium size ships business unit; Nicolas Saverys, the chairman of Exmar; and Belgian Ambassador to Korea Bruno Jans.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [[email protected]]