- ITOCHU’s subsidiary CABS commissions a 5,000 m³ ammonia bunkering vessel, with delivery slated for September 2027.
- The vessel enables offshore, ship-to-ship ammonia fueling in Singapore as part of a METI-backed demonstration project.
- ITOCHU plans to expand this ammonia bunkering model to key maritime hubs, including the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, and Japan.
ITOCHU Corporation, through its Singapore‐based subsidiary Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping (CABS), has signed a contract with Sasaki Shipbuilding in Hiroshima to build a 5,000 m³ ammonia bunkering vessel, reports Ammonia Energy Association.
Simultaneously, ITOCHU reached an agreement with Izumi Steel Works to supply the vessel’s ammonia tank plant. Part of the vessel’s financing is being provided by Hiroshima Bank, with the remainder covered by ITOCHU’s equity.
ITOCHU Advances Ammonia Bunkering
The ammonia bunkering vessel will fly under the Singapore flag and is expected to be delivered by September 2027. A demonstration of ammonia bunkering via ship-to-ship transfer is planned for October 2027, under the “Demonstration Project for Bunkering Ammonia as Marine Fuel in Singapore”—an initiative supported by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Following demonstration, ITOCHU will engage maritime stakeholders, including port authorities and fuel producers, to establish safe offshore ammonia bunkering operations. The vessel will be time-chartered to ZETA Bunkering (another ITOCHU subsidiary) to deliver bunkering services to ammonia-fueled ships. The goal extends beyond Singapore—with planned commercial operations expected to follow in strategic global locations such as the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal, and Japan.
This initiative underscores ITOCHU’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of clean marine fuels and strengthening Japan’s shipbuilding and tank manufacturing capabilities in the emerging ammonia bunkering sector. Let me know if you’d like additional context—like breakdowns of project economics, technology specs, or global adoption strategies!
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Source: Ammonia Energy Association
