One of shipping’s first movers when it comes to alternative fuels is being linked to another industry first in the dry sector. Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is said to have ordered up to six ammonia-fuelled newcastlemaxes in China.

The order for three plus three optional ships at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry comes widely quoted by the brokers at around $80m per ship， or 480m in total， against conventionally powered units， which are priced at about $65m in China， while methanol dual-fuel versions add about $10m more to the price tag.

The firm 210，00 dwt newbuilds should deliver in 2026 and be fitted with under-development dual-fuel engines by MAN Energy Solutions， which plans to roll out its solution by 2025 at the earliest.

The Idan Ofer-controlled diversified shipowner， which took delivery of the world’s first dual-fuel LNG suezmax tanker in 2022， has a deal in place with Dutch OCI and MAN to develop methanol and ammonia-run engines for several ship types， including the ammonia dual-fuel gas carrier announced at last year’s Posidonia.

So far， bulker newbuild orders have been placed with ammonia- or methanol-ready options for future retrofits when the fuels become available. The only exceptions， in addition to EPS’ newcastlemaxes， are methanol-powered kamsarmaxes ordered by J. Lauritzen and Cargill earlier this year.