Fortescue and CMB.TECH Partner on 12 Ammonia-Capable Bulk Carriers for Zero-Emission Shipping

Fortescue and CMB.TECH have signed a landmark agreement to deploy up to 12 Newcastlemax bulk carriers that can run on ammonia, a carbon-free marine fuel. Three of the vessels will have dual-fuel ammonia engines by the end of 2026, and the remaining nine will be built ammonia-ready for future retrofit. The partnership aims to cut nearly 250,000 tonnes of CO2 annually if the fleet operates on green ammonia, marking a concrete step toward zero-emission maritime transport. This deal strengthens the business case for green ammonia beyond its traditional use in fertilizers. It signals growing demand for low-carbon ammonia from the shipping sector, which could tighten supply and push up prices for green ammonia grades over the medium term. For now, the immediate impact on conventional ammonia markets remains limited as the vessels phase in from 2026 onward. The collaboration builds on Fortescue's earlier demonstration that ammonia can work safely at sea. The challenge now is scaling the technology across commercial fleets and building the supporting fuel infrastructure. This kind of partnership between a mining giant and a shipping firm shows how real capital is starting to move toward decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors.