Fortescue and CMB.TECH Sign Charter Deal for Up to 12 Ammonia-Capable Bulkers

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Monday June 22, 2026

Mining firm Fortescue and maritime group CMB.TECH have signed an agreement for the charter of up to 12 ammonia-capable Newcastlemax bulk carriers.

The deal will see Fortescue charter 12 vessels from Bocimar, CMB.TECH's dry bulk division, the two firms said in a joint press release on Monday.

Three of the 210,000 dwt ships are set to be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and enter service by the end of this year, while the remaining nine will be built ammonia-ready, allowing them to be converted to ammonia propulsion in the future.

If fuelled with green ammonia, the fleet could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 250,000 tonnes a year compared with conventional marine fuels, according to the companies.

The agreement comes as shipping companies increasingly explore ammonia as a long-term pathway to decarbonisation.

Interest in the fuel has accelerated in recent years, with shipowners placing orders for ammonia-capable vessels ahead of the development of large-scale fuel supply and bunkering infrastructure.

While the first oceangoing ammonia-fuelled vessel entered service this month, challenges around fuel availability, bunkering networks and onboard handling procedures remain before the fuel can achieve widespread adoption.

“This agreement marks an important step in showcasing ammonia as a viable marine fuel and advancing the transition to zero-emission shipping,” Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, said.

Last year, CMB.TECH had signed a green ammonia offtake deal in China to power its ammonia-fuelled fleet.

Ship & Bunker News Team
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