CMB.TECH’s Mineral Europa, the world’s first ammonia-powered dry bulk carrierwas bunkered with 500 tonnes of certified green ammonia, marking the first time such an operation was conducted in Australia.
The ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering trial was conducted on 2 November at the Port of Port Hedland, the world’s largest dry bulk export port. A marine notice issued by the port established a 1 nautical mile exclusion zone around Mineral Europa and the bunkering vessel during the entire duration of the operation.
Following the operation, Mineral Europa entered the port to load iron ore bound for China under a long-term charter agreement between Bocimar, CMB.TECH’s dry bulk shipping arm, and Australian iron ore producer Fortescue.
In June, Fortescue agreed to charter up to 12 ammonia-capable Newcastlemax vessels from Bocimar. Up to three vessels will be delivered with dual-fuel ammonia engines and are expected to enter service by the end of 2026. The remaining nine vessels will be delivered ammonia-ready and can be converted to operate on ammonia in the future.
Mineral Europa’s WinGD X72DF-A engine uses high-pressure ammonia injection supplemented by roughly 5% pilot fuel at full load. The engine delivers load handling, dynamic response and fuel efficiency on par with WinGD’s equivalent diesel-fuelled X Engines in both ammonia and diesel operating modes. Testing showed the X-DF-A engine achieves over 90% reduction in GHG emissions in ammonia mode compared to diesel mode, according to WinGD.
Pilbara Ports said the trial demonstrated a practical pathway for safely refuelling ammonia-powered vessels in a live port environment, giving shipping a practical path to use green fuels.
The operation was conducted by the port authority, charterer, and owner in cooperation with regulators and operational teams to safely carry out the transfer in a live port environment.
It builds on the first STS ammonia transfer completed between the LPG carriers Navigator Global and Green Pioneer at the Port of Dampier in September 2024. The trial was conducted in cooperation between the port, Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and Yara Clean Ammonia.
Clean fuel hub
Pilbara Ports is the port authority for the ports of Ashburton, Dampier, Port Hedland and Varanus Island in Western Australia. The ports had a record 9,499 vessel calls last year, more than two-thirds of which were dry bulk carriers. With significant investment targeted for green ammonia production in the region, the port authority wants to establish itself as a clean fuel bunkering hub.
Pilabara Ports chief executive Samuel McSkimming said: “The Pilbara has the scale, location and capability to play a leading role in the future of clean fuel bunkering. The insights gained from this trial will help guide the next phase of development and further position Western Australia and the Pilbara at the forefront of maritime decarbonisation.”
Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto said “Global shipping emits close to one billion tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, and the global merchant fleet comprises more than 100,000 vessels. Those emissions will keep increasing unless the industry changes the fuel it runs on.
Mr Otranto said the trial “marks a significant step towards bunkering Fortescue’s vessels with ammonia we produce here in Australia, using our own renewable energy.”
CMB.TECH chief executive Alexander Saverys added, “Mineral Europa is the first vessel of its kind, but many more will follow in the months and years ahead.”