HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has built the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel. On the 9th, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced that it held a naming ceremony for two medium-sized gas carriers at its Ulsan shipyard.

Each vessel has been named after Belgian cities: “Antwerpen” and “Arlon.” HD Hyundai Heavy Industries secured orders from a Belgian shipping company for four ammonia-fueled medium-sized gas carriers between 2023 and 2024. The vessels named at the ceremony are the first and second in the series and, after final outfitting, are scheduled to be delivered to the shipowner at the end of May and July, respectively.
The ships, measuring 190 meters in length, 30.4 meters in breadth, and 18.8 meters in height, are equipped with three cargo tanks developed in-house by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. These cargo tanks can store and transport ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), among other cargos.

A key feature is the installation of detection systems that can monitor ammonia leaks in real time, as well as emission recovery systems. When transporting ammonia, leakage can occur from the cargo tanks, and these systems detect such leaks. In addition, even if ammonia is released, it can be recovered through the installed devices, minimizing product loss during transportation.


Ammonia (NH3), an eco-friendly, carbon-free fuel, offers excellent logistical convenience because it can be stored in various tanks without requiring separate cryogenic technology. In particular, as a compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, ammonia can store about 1.7 times more hydrogen than liquefied hydrogen on a per-volume basis. Because more hydrogen can be transported in the same space, it is considered advantageous for large-scale, long-distance transportation and storage.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that ammonia’s share as a marine fuel will increase from 8% in 2030 to 46% in 2050. This underpins expectations for growing demand for ammonia-fueled vessels. To date, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has received orders for a total of eight ammonia-fueled vessels from companies including Exmar and Trafigura.
Joo Won-ho, head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Naval & Medium-sized Vessel Business Unit, said, “We are proud to have built the world’s first ammonia-fueled vessel, which requires highly sophisticated technology,” and added, “Through technological innovation, we will further solidify our leadership in the global eco-friendly ship market.”
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