Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has decided to re-enter the ammonia transport business with the Green Pioneer, a 35,000 m³-type ammonia/LPG carrier, it said on May 18. It has signed a time charter contract with Trammo, a merchandising and ammonia trading company.  

The company said that ammonia is widely used all over the world as a raw material for fertiliser and demand is expected to increase in step with rising food production as the world's population grows. “In recent years, ammonia has also drawn attention as a next-generation clean fuel, which generates zero CO₂ emissions when it burns, and as a "hydrogen carrier" that enhances the efficiency of hydrogen transport,” it added. 

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MOL said it will undertake reliable transport of ammonia and hydrogen, “which are expected to be in high demand as fuel in the future, and contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society through proactive participation in a broad range of value chains”. MOL was active in the ammonia transport business until 2016.

Japan's Itochu Corp, Itochu Enex, Vopak, Pavilion Energy, MOL and Total on May 17 signed a memorandum of understanding on the joint development study of ammonia as a new marine fuel in Singapore.