World’s first operational ammonia bunker vessel enters service

FKAB provided the original vessel design and technical conversion documentation

Shenghang Yongle ammonia bunker vessel
Shenghang Yongle has been converted for ship-to-ship liquid ammonia fuel bunkering.

The FKAB Marine Design L21 ammonia carrier Shenghang Yongle, has been converted for ship-to-ship liquid ammonia fuel bunkering. Led by Jiangsu Andefu Energy Development, FKAB together with cargo handling supplier Gloryholder provided the technical drawing documentation for the conversion. The vessel is now the world’s first operational ammonia bunker vessel and has received the first ammonia bunkering class certificate.

The achievement represents an important step in the development of the infrastructure needed to support ammonia as a marine fuel. While several ammonia bunker vessel projects have reached the design, feasibility or construction stage, the Shenghang Yongle has now progressed into operational readiness.

Originally designed as a flexible liquefied gas carrier, the vessel has been upgraded from a conventional ammonia carrier into a dual-purpose vessel capable of both transporting liquid ammonia and delivering it as fuel through ship-to-ship bunkering.

A versatile platform for ammonia transport and bunkering

Shenghang Yongle is a 5,500 m³ semi-refrigerated and semi-pressurised liquefied gas carrier. The vessel was designed by FKAB, built by China Merchants Shipbuilding Industry Dingheng shipyard and is managed by Shenghang Shipping Co., Ltd.

Designed for unrestricted navigation, the vessel can carry several liquefied gas cargoes, including ammonia, LPG and vinyl chloride monomer. Its cargo tanks have a minimum design temperature of −48°C, and the vessel is equipped with two low-temperature reliquefication systems.

These characteristics provided a strong technical foundation for the subsequent conversion. The vessel’s existing cargo containment and handling capabilities could be adapted to meet the additional requirements associated with transferring ammonia as a marine fuel.

FKAB designed 5,500 cubic metre liquefied gas carrier Shenghang Yongle
The 5,500 m³ semi-refrigerated and semi-pressurised liquefied gas carrier was designed by FKAB.

From cargo carrier to bunker vessel

Jiangsu Andefu Energy Development led the conversion and certification process in close cooperation with China Classification Society, while FKAB together with Gloryholder prepared the technical drawing documentation required for the conversion. The overall work included modifications to the bunkering system, development of operating procedures, risk assessments, and the establishment of safety and emergency-response arrangements.

Particular attention was given to the challenges associated with ammonia, including toxicity, material compatibility, low-temperature operation, leak detection and risk control during bunkering.

Closing a critical infrastructure gap

Ammonia is regarded as one of the most promising potential zero-carbon marine fuels when produced using renewable energy. Its wider adoption, however, depends not only on ammonia-capable ships but also on a safe and reliable supply chain, including production, storage, transport and bunkering.

The lack of operational ammonia bunkering vessels has been one of the important gaps in this chain. The conversion of the Shenghang Yongle demonstrates how an existing ammonia-capable gas carrier can be developed into a practical bunkering asset.

Cargo handling system onboard Shenghang Yongle
The vessel’s cargo-handling capabilities provided the foundation for its ammonia bunkering conversion.

Designed for today, adaptable for tomorrow

For FKAB, the project demonstrates both the long-term value of designing vessels with operational flexibility in mind and the importance of maintaining detailed knowledge throughout a vessel’s lifecycle. Having developed the original vessel design, FKAB was able to support its next stage by preparing the technical drawing documentation for the ammonia bunkering conversion.

Shenghang Yongle was designed and built as a capable, versatile working vessel. Its conversion into an ammonia bunker vessel shows how robust naval architecture, adaptable cargo systems and carefully developed conversion documentation can help turn the marine energy transition into operational reality.

We congratulate Jiangsu Andefu Energy Development, Shenghang Shipping, China Classification Society, Gloryholder and all other parties involved in achieving this significant industry milestone.

40 Years of FKAB & Furetank Collaboration

A 40 Year Collaboration, Celebrated with a Naming Ceremony of a brand new Vinga vessel in Uddevalla!

This year FKAB celebrates 65 years of ship design, and 40 of those years have been a journey together with Furetank.
We have exchanged ideas, knowledge and passion to create more and more efficient vessels and always strived to make them better and better for the environment, both more climate friendly and for the crew environment onboard.
The latest result is the series of Vinga vessels with 22 vessels on order so far.

On Friday 28 August a naming ceremony will be held in Uddevalla to celebrate the 40 years together.
On Saturday 29 August, the Port of Uddevalla will open up their gates to show what they do and during 10.00 – 14.00 there will be Open Ship for the public to go onboard the vessel and walk a tour outside, in the accomodation, in the Engine room and on the Bridge.
It all takes place at Frölandskajen in Uddevalla.

See the full Saturday program for the Uddevalla Port day at
http://www.uddevalla-hamn.se/stora-hamndagen

Meet FKAB at the SMM Exhibition in Hamburg

FKAB is present at the SMM exhibition 2026 in Hamburg, 1-4 September

At booth A1-418 you will find FKAB Marine Design together with our representative in Germany, Matau Marine.
Make sure to stop by to discuss anything within ship design.
You will meet FKAB colleagues from the offices in Sweden, China & Croatia.

Orca Fisher Naming Ceremony held in London

The first vessel, Orca Fisher, in the series of four vessels for James Fisher was on Tuesday 21 July names in London alongside HMS Belfast

This FKAB T68 Chemical & Product Tanker of 6000 DWT, built at China Merchants Industry Yangzhou Dingheng, is a dual fueld vessel with LNG/LBG, MarineLine coated Cargo tanks, Shaft generator with PTH and VFD, Economizer and Thermal oil boiler, etc.
Reaed more about the vessels via the links below:
FKAB T68 – 6000 DWT Chemical & Product Tanker

Essberger Excercise Options of 7900 DWT Stainless Steel Tankers

John T Essberger have now released the first two options of the 7900 DWT Stainless Steel Tankers ordered as 2+2+2 Chemical tankers in December 2025.

This series of FKAB T80 vessels are built at China Merchants Industry Yangzhou Dingheng with the first scheduled delivery during 2028.
With these 7900 DWT tankers together with the the FKAB T75 Chemical Tankers of 13 000 DWT, Essberger now have 8 state-of-the-art chemical tankers in their orderbook.
Reaed more about the vessels via the links below:
FKAB T80 – 7900 DWT Chemical Tanker
FKAB T75 – 13 000 DWT Chemical Tanker

NYK & Stolt Tankers 38 000 DWT Launched

FKAB Designed NYK Solt Tankers, NST,  Chemical Tanker Successfully Launched

FKAB is pleased to announce the successful launch of the first 38,000 DWT stainless steel chemical parcel tanker in the NST series at Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard, China.
A warm thank you to Stolt Tankers, NYK and Xiangyu sipyard for a great cooperation.

The vessel is based on FKAB’s T72 design and forms part of the eight-vessel series ordered by NYK Stolt Tankers (NST). Designed for safe, efficient and future-ready transportation of chemical and oil products, the vessel features 30 cargo tank segregations, FKAB’s patented F-Bow hull design and a highly optimized propulsion arrangement focused on minimizing fuel consumption and emissions.

The tanker complies with IMO Tier III requirements and is equipped with shore power connection, while also being prepared for future conversion to methanol fuel and UPS battery integration.

The successful launch marks an important milestone in the construction program, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2029.

Meet us at Posidonia in Athens 1-5 June

FKAB Marine Design are present at Posidonia Exhibition 1-5 June.

We are part of the Stand no. 3.315 arranged by IntraMare.
Make sure to stop by us, Martin Gombrii, Andreas Hagberg and our representative in Greece Konstantinos Fakiolas, to discuss efficient and environmental friendly ship solutions.

FKAB söker System- & Maskiningenjör

 

Ingenjör – System, maskin och projektledning för fartygsdesign
Vill du vara med och skapa smarta lösningar för framtidens fartyg?
Hos FKAB Marine Design får du arbeta i en miljö där teknik, kreativitet och samarbete möts. Vi söker nu en ingenjör med fokus på system och maskin, en roll som kombinerar tekniskt ansvar och ibland även projektledning – där du blir en nyckelperson i att utveckla energieffektiva, hållbara och säkra fartygslösningar för våra kunder.

👉 Tjänstgöringsort: Uddevalla eller Göteborg

Din roll

Som system- och maskiningenjör kommer du att arbeta i både nybyggnads- och ombyggnadsprojekt. Rollen innefattar tekniskt ansvar och ibland även projektledning. Du kommer att:

  • arbeta med utveckling, dimensionering och integration av maskin- och hjälpsystem ombord
  • bidra med tekniska lösningar för energioptimering, alternativa bränslen och miljökrav
  • ibland leda och koordinera projekt, inklusive planering, uppföljning och kommunikation med kund, varv och leverantörer
  • samarbeta nära med kollegor inom olika discipliner för att säkerställa helhetslösningar

Din profil

Vi söker dig som är högskoleingenjör eller motsvarande med inriktning mot maskin eller marin teknik. Vi ser gärna att du har:

  • erfarenhet av fartygsdesign, varvsarbete eller motsvarande teknisk miljö
  • kunskap inom marina system och dess utformning och dimensionering
  • erfarenhet av maskinsystem, energioptimering eller framdrivningslösningar
  • vana av 2D/3D-CAD och gärna erfarenhet av programvaror som används inom marin design
  • erfarenhet av att skriva tekniska specifikationer och arbeta i projektform
  • goda kunskaper i engelska, både skriftligt och muntligt

Dina egenskaper

För att lyckas i rollen tror vi att du är en person som:

  • är innovativ, nyfiken och lösningsorienterad
  • är strukturerad och kan driva arbetet framåt
  • trivs med att ta ansvar och ibland leda projekt
  • uppskattar samarbete och en miljö där engagemang och teknik går hand i hand

Varför FKAB?

Sedan 1961 har vi levererat fartygsdesign till kunder världen över. Vi är ett oberoende designhus med kontor i Sverige, Kina och Kroatien, där vi kombinerar lång erfarenhet med nytänkande. Vårt fokus är att skapa lösningar som bidrar till lägre bränsleförbrukning, minskad miljöpåverkan och hög operativ effektivitet – alltid i nära samarbete med våra kunder.

Låter det här som din nästa utmaning?
Skicka ditt CV till recruit@fkab.se  och ange ”System- och maskiningenjör” i ämnesraden.
Vill du veta mer om oss? Besök gärna www.fkab.com

Naming Ceremonies for Tiger & Narwhal Fisher

Two Newbuilds for James Fisher were given their names officially on Thursday 21 May.

Tiger Fisher & Narwhal Fisher were on May 21 named at a ceremony at the yard.
The vessels are two out of four vessels in the FKAB T68 series of tankers and are 6000 DWT Chemical & Product Tankers, with a Gross Tonnage below 5000 GT, dual fueld with LNG/LBG and diesel built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng.
We wish both vessels a safe journey  home and look forward to see them in operation in their home waters.

Some more info about the vessels:
The hull form is designed for good performance in harsh weather conditions, with
innovative solutions onboard and with the patented F‐bow it is as an efficient low
energy consuming vessel.
Among many things, special attention is made regarding crew safety, propeller and
rudder performance, optimal combination of main engine and propeller with regards
to rpm and pitch for all speeds, electrical consumption, heat/cooler consumption,
environmental protection and minimum external & internal noise.
Propulsion is provided by a Wärtsilä 25 four stroke LNG/LBG dual fuel engine able
to run as aux engine during cargo discharging and other low load cases in harbour
mode by using skip‐firing mode.

The FKAB T68 vessels have:
‐ MarineLine 784 coated, fully coiled cargo tanks
‐ Shaft generator with PTH and VFD for load optimisation
‐ Fulfills IMO Tier III with SCR
‐ Economiser and thermal oil boiler (1x LNG‐DF)
‐ 12 Electric deepwell cargo pumps

Read more about the vessel at FKAB T68

Meet FKAB Marine Design at Mari-Tech 2026

Mari-Tech 2026, 12-14 May

This year Mari-Tech is held in Victoria BC, Canada, and FKAB is present.

Stop by FKAB at Booth 53 and discuss efficient ship design.
It can be anything from conversions to Newbuildings, low energy consuming ship solutions, green technology like fuels including batteries, Wind Assisted Propulsion and last but not least excellent hull forms that perfectly fits your needs.