CSSC Jiangnan Shipbuilding has officially delivered the Ivy Cove, the world’s first 93,000 cubic meter Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC), to Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping for charter by Trafigura. The pioneer “PANDA 93A” design features an LPG dual-fuel propulsion system with an “Ammonia-Ready” upgrade pathway, offering unmatched cargo flexibility to carry both liquid ammonia and traditional LPG to drive the global green energy transition.
Shanghai | June 10, 2026 – In a milestone development for global green shipping and alternative fuel logistics, China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) Jiangnan Shipyard officially named and delivered the Ivy Cove on June 10. The vessel is the world’s first 93,000 cubic meter Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC), representing a major technical leap forward in high-end, zero-carbon energy maritime transportation.
Built for Singapore-based shipping giant Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), the pioneering vessel will enter long-haul service under a long-term charter with global commodities trading powerhouse Trafigura, positioning it at the forefront of the emerging international green hydrogen and ammonia supply chains.
R&D Breakthrough: The ‘PANDA 93A’ Blueprint
Liquid ammonia is rapidly reshaping the global energy trade landscape. As a clean-burning fuel that emits zero carbon dioxide and functions as an efficient carrier for green hydrogen storage and transportation, it requires highly specialized maritime assets.
Jiangnan Shipyard captured this market transition early. Upon securing the world’s inaugural 93,000 cbm VLAC contract, the yard embarked on a substantial re-engineering program based on its mature flagship product, the fourth-generation 93,000 cbm Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC). The result is the proprietary “PANDA 93A” vessel type: a 230-meter-long, 36.6-meter-wide maritime giant classed by Lloyd’s Register.
| Specification | Metric Value / Detail |
| Length Overall | 230 meters |
| Beam / Breadth | 36.6 meters |
| Cargo Capacity | 93,000 cubic meters |
| Core Design | PANDA 93A (Proprietary) |
| Classification | Lloyd’s Register (LR) |
Engineering Challenges: Balancing Density, Corrosion, and Weight
Designing a dedicated ammonia carrier presented the R&D team with a complex, multi-faceted engineering puzzle bridging materials science, structural mechanics, and fluid dynamics:
- Structural Strength vs. Cargo Density: Liquid ammonia has a significantly higher density than traditional liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) like propane or butane. Consequently, the cargo tanks required extensive structural reinforcement to bear the heavier load.
- Chemical Corrosion Limitations: Due to the corrosive nature of liquid ammonia, the yield strength of the steel and tank materials had to be tightly restricted to prevent stress-corrosion cracking.
- The Lightweighting Contradiction: Carrying a denser cargo increases the gross weight of the ship, which conflicts with modern lightweighting goals.
To overcome these structural bottlenecks, Jiangnan’s engineers optimized the liquid tank layouts during the initial design phase. Through highly refined structural lightweighting and strict inter-disciplinary execution, the shipyard successfully controlled the weight increase of the four massive tanks, achieving the dual objective of being both structurally robust and efficient enough to be hoisted securely as single, complete units.
Performance, Unrivaled Versatility, and “Ammonia-Ready” Propulsion
Hydrodynamic Efficiency
The Ivy Cove breaks new ground in hull performance, overcoming the wake and resistance penalties typically associated with medium-to-high speed, large block coefficient hull shapes. This allows the vessel to maintain highly optimized hydrodynamic performance under all operational parameters, including full load, ballast, and varying cargo densities.
Furthermore, the team combined patented wave-damping linear technology with both front and rear propeller-mounted energy-saving devices, maximizing speed and cargo capacity while ensuring global waterway accessibility and terminal compatibility.
Commercial Flexibility: The “Jack-of-all-Trades”
A defining feature of the Ivy Cove is its exceptional loading versatility. Recognizing that the bulk liquid ammonia trade scale is still maturing, the vessel can carry a full load of liquid ammonia, or switch seamlessly to LPG products like propane and butane. Crucially, the vessel’s cargo handling layout allows it to carry two different grades of liquefied gas simultaneously, providing charterers with unmatched market flexibility.
Green Ambition and EEDI Phase III Compliance
The vessel features a highly efficient LPG dual-fuel main engine paired with a shaft-driven generator. Compared to conventional fuel configurations, this setup yields immediate environmental benefits:
- Reduces CO₂ emissions by approximately 20%
- Cuts sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions by roughly 99%
- Comfortably satisfies the stringent requirements of EEDI Phase III
Future-Proof Infrastructure: The Ivy Cove has been engineered with an explicit “upgrade interface.” Its design lays a solid structural and technical foundation for subsequent retrofits into an ammonia-fueled main engine as soon as commercial-scale ammonia propulsion systems hit the market.
Construction Excellence: A Race Against the Clock
As the lead ship of the series, the project marked the first-ever building collaboration between Jiangnan Shipyard and EPS. Because the specialized systems had no pre-existing templates to follow, the sea trial and gas system debugging phase demanded precision execution.
Following the completion of the piping strength tests for the liquid cargo system, equipment debugging and tank inerting had to be fast-tracked simultaneously. The project team instituted an intense, hourly schedule to eliminate operational downtime.
In a span of just 12 days, the yard concurrently finalized the drying and inertization of the liquid cargo tanks alongside the comprehensive commissioning and inspection of all cargo gasification equipment. This sprint allowed the team to steadily execute planned gas bunkering on April 30, paving the way for the smooth, on-time delivery on June 10.
The Outlook
The delivery of the Ivy Cove stands as a powerful testament to China’s expanding technical prowess in the complex high-end gas carrier segment. More than just a new vessel delivery, this world-first VLAC provides a vital “golden key” for the global maritime industry’s transition toward absolute carbon reduction, establishing a high-efficiency benchmark for long-haul green energy transportation on the high seas.
About Jiangnan Shipyard
Founded in 1865, CSSC’s Jiangnan Shipyard, affectionately known as “China’s No. 1 Factory”, is a cornerstone of global shipbuilding and naval defense. Today, the yard bridges its rich heritage with cutting-edge innovation, leveraging digitalization, decarbonization, and a “Single Source of Truth” framework to construct high-spec gas carriers, research vessels, and container ships. Jiangnan remains a market leader by consistently matching technical sophistication with on-time, premium delivery.
Source: Jiangnan Shipyard