Lloyd’s Register has confirmed the successful completion of a joint development project  designing ammonia dual-fuel systems on Trafigura’s newbuild medium gas carriers .

LR completed an extensive design evaluation and safety assessment to approve the designs in line with its rules and international regulations.

Implementing ammonia dual-fuel systems on these vessels marks a significant step towards expanding the use of low-carbon fuels beyond specialised vessels to more diverse ship types. Trafigura is one of the first operators to use this technology on MGCs commercially.

Trafigura signed a contract with HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) in 2024 to build four 45,000 cubic metre MGCs, powered by WinGD ammonia dual-fuel engines and Alfa Laval’s Ammonia Release Mitigation System. They are designed to transport both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ammonia.

The vessels will be built at HMD’s shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, with deliveries expected to be completed during 2028.

Panos Mitrou, LR’s Global Gas Segment Director, said: “We are proud to have played a pivotal role in this collaborative project. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting the maritime industry’s energy transition efforts by offering exceptional technical expertise, rigorous safety evaluations, and regulatory leadership. 

“As a trusted maritime services partner, we continue to pioneer the pathway enabling the adoption of alternative fuels and innovative technologies that shape the future of decarbonised shipping.”

Vessels powered by low carbon ammonia have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions, compared to a conventional marine fuel burning vessel. The ammonia carried by the newbuild vessels can also support decarbonisation of a wide range of heavy industries.

The order for the newbuild dual-fuel vessels makes Trafigura one of the first movers in the low-emission tanker market and sends an important demand signal to the market to generate zero-carbon fuel production and infrastructure. It also supports Trafigura’s commitment to reduce the carbon intensity of its own shipping fleet and align with the Group’s commitments and participation to the WEF’s First Mover’s Coalition and Global Maritime Forum’s Getting to Zero Coalition.

“EU regulations have been crucial in allowing us to execute this order,” said Andrea Olivi, Global Head of Shipping for Trafigura. “If we are to decarbonise freight and increase the demand for zero-carbon fuels across the world, we need the IMO to implement regulations including EU ETS and Fuel EU maritime on a global scale. The IMO needs to introduce a simple and transparent policy framework including, in our view, a global fuel standard combined with a straightforward levy applied equally across the board.”

We will focus on securing new environmental technologies to preoccupy future markets by actively utilizing design & construction experience and synergy accumulated over long period of time with HD Hyundai shipbuilding affiliates,” said Mr Lee, Dong-jin, Head of the Initial Design Division and the Detailed Design Division at HD Hyundai Mipo.

A joint development project studying the performance of ammonia as a shipping fuel started in December 2024 and will continue until the new vessels are delivered. The project brings together expertise from multiple organisations, including LR, Trafigura Maritime Logistics, HD Hyundai Mipo, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine & Machinery Division, WinGD Ltd, Liquid Gas Equipment Limited (Babcock LGE), Alfa Laval Corporate AB, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.