Belgium’s CMB.TECH has sent the 210,000 dwt Mineral Europa on its maiden voyage to Australia, making it the first ammonia-powered dry bulk carrier to enter service. Built at CSSC’s Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China, the newcastlemax is the first of 21 ammonia-fuelled ships (18 bulkers, one containership and two chemical tankers) due to join the group’s fleet through 2029, most of them within the next nine months. Unlike ammonia-ready vessels that need a later engine conversion, the ship enters service with ammonia propulsion already installed, using WinGD’s X72DF-A dual-fuel engine, which passed factory acceptance testing in June. CMB.TECH has also lined up employment for the fleet: Fortescue agreed in June to charter up to 12 newcastlemaxes from its dry bulk arm Bocimar, up to three of them with ammonia dual-fuel engines by the end of this year, while Mitsui OSK Lines signed up last year for nine ammonia-powered ships for delivery between 2026 and 2029. Fuel supply remains a key hurdle, so the group is investing in storage facilities and bunker barges and working with producers on green ammonia availability. While green ammonia emits no CO2 at the point of combustion, its overall footprint depends on how it is produced. Chief executive Alexander Saverys said the launch shows that decarbonising shipping is happening today, as the Antwerp-based group, which controls about 235 ships following its combination with Golden Ocean, moves its ammonia programme into the operating phase.