Exmar has added a second ammonia-capable gas carrier to its fleet with the delivery of Arlon, a 46,000 cbm dual-fuel midsized gas carrier built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in South Korea.
The newbuild joins sister vessel Antwerpen, delivered earlier this year, and will be owned by Exmar France and registered under the Belgian flag.
Designed to transport ammonia and LPG, Arlon is equipped with a propulsion system that can run on low-carbon ammonia, enabling the vessel to use part of its cargo as fuel. Exmar said this capability provides greater operational flexibility while supporting efforts to reduce shipping emissions.
The company estimates that operating the vessel on low-carbon ammonia could cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 90% compared with conventional marine fuels. It added that the ship’s design complies with, and in some areas exceeds, the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) current emissions reduction requirements.
Arlon was built through a collaboration involving HD Hyundai, HHI-EMD, Nord Gas Solutions, WinGD and Lloyd’s Register, reflecting growing industry efforts to commercialise ammonia-powered shipping.
The delivery comes as shipowners increasingly invest in vessels capable of operating on alternative fuels ahead of tighter global emissions regulations and the expected growth of ammonia as a marine fuel.
