Anglo-Eastern helps turn CMB.TECH’s ammonia ambition into operational reality
Following CMB.TECH’s announcement that Mineral Europa has embarked on her maiden voyage, Anglo-Eastern is recognising the multi-year engineering, newbuilding and operational effort that helped bring the pioneering vessel from an early alternative-fuel concept into service.
CMB.TECH set the project in motion through its vision, investment and willingness to take the technology and commercial risk associated with a developing fuel pathway. Working within a longstanding relationship with CMB.TECH, Anglo-Eastern brought together the capabilities of Anglo-Eastern Technical Services (AETS), its newbuilding and project management arm, with ship management, crewing, training and operational expertise to help convert that ambition into a ship designed and prepared for safe operation at sea.
The work began in 2018, when CMB.TECH and AETS explored alternative-fuel concepts for bulk carriers and their associated commercial viability across Supramax and Newcastlemax vessel types, starting with hydrogen before progressing to ammonia. By 2020, AETS was developing the design philosophy, safety concept, risk-mitigation methodology, fuel-supply arrangements, general arrangement and preliminary engineering calculations at a time when established rules and standards for ammonia as a marine fuel were still developing.
The resulting concepts received Approvals in Principle from Lloyd’s Register and the American Bureau of Shipping in 2021 with the design approach prioritising crew safety, zero loss of cargo volume and the prevention of direct or diffused release of green ammonia from the ship. It integrated fuel tanks, double-wall piping, ventilation, detection, containment, engine interfaces, emergency shutdown and vapour-management arrangements as one operating system.
“Mineral Europa demonstrates what can be achieved when an owner’s conviction is matched by deep engineering and operational capability,” said Bjorn Hojgaard, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo-Eastern. “CMB.TECH had the vision and courage to commit capital and move decisively while the pathway was still being shaped. Anglo-Eastern brought together the capabilities needed to help turn that ambition into operational reality. For me, that is the real significance of this project: our ability to work alongside an owner from an early idea all the way through to safe operation at sea, whichever technology pathway they choose.”
The 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax was constructed by CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd and is equipped with a WinGD dual-fuel ammonia engine and a Sun Rui Ammonia Fuel Supply System. The dual-fuel configuration allows operation on ammonia or conventional marine fuel, providing operational flexibility as ammonia supply infrastructure and economics continue to develop.
“The technical challenge was not just accommodating a new fuel. Safety, containment and operational requirements all had to work together as an integrated system without compromising the vessel's primary purpose as a commercial cargo carrier," said Arunava Sengupta, Managing Director of Anglo-Eastern Technical Services. “We adopted a risk-based approach supported by extensive safety studies to develop a design that was commercially viable, practical to build, and ultimately safe and manageable for the people who operate it every day. Seeing the vessel progress from a feasibility study to successful ammonia operation is a significant milestone and a proud achievement for everyone involved.”
Operational preparation also began well before the vessel entered service. Anglo-Eastern developed vessel-specific operating, bunkering, maintenance and emergency arrangements. Training for seafarers and shore teams incorporated a three-dimensional digital twin, an ammonia fuel-gas-supply-system simulator, bunkering familiarisation and emergency scenarios. Senior officers also participated in yard and sea trials, building direct familiarity with the vessel, its systems and its safety philosophy.
“Mineral Europa is the result of a clear commitment to make ammonia propulsion workable at sea,” said Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH. “Anglo-Eastern has worked closely with our team from early on. That continuity, together with the expertise of every project partner, has helped bring the vessel from its early development through successful sea trials and into service. It marks a big milestone in our decarbonisation journey. We are proving that decarbonising shipping is no longer a distant ambition. It is happening today. Mineral Europa is the first vessel of its kind, but many more will follow in the months and years ahead. Let’s decarbonise today, to navigate tomorrow!”
Anglo-Eastern itself remains fuel-agnostic and is actively supporting its breadth of clients in assessing different technologies against their fleets, trades and risk profiles. Mineral Europa demonstrates Anglo-Eastern’s ability to support those choices.