Trafigura Carries First Co-load of Ammonia and LPG From US to Europe

More flexible shipping can help boost availability of low-carbon ammonia, commodities giant says

Trafigura and ammonia maker CF Industries said they can lower costs and reduce emissions by co-loading ammonia and LPG on the same vessel.

TRAFIGURA shipped ammonia and LPG on the same vessel for the first time in a move the commodity trader said would help scale up low-carbon ammonia supplies.

The Singapore-flagged, 2023-built, 30,108 dwt Green Power (IMO: 9927316) on Thursday completed a voyage from the US Gulf to Europe with ammonia and LPG in separate tanks.

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Trafigura said the voyage was meant to show it could ship low-carbon ammonia — a promising alternative fuel for ships — to supply ports that might not need a full vessel load.

It said strict segregation requirements ensured no crossover of liquid, condensate or vapour (ammonia is highly toxic).

Trafigura head of ammonia and LPG Patricio Norris said Trafigura regularly carried LPG and ammonia from the US to Europe on similar ships.

“We can improve the economics for our customers and reduce emissions with fewer voyages by safely co-loading ammonia and LPG on the same vessel,” he said.

The ammonia was loaded on Green Power from CF Industries’ plant in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and the LPG at Corpus Christi, Texas. 

Green Power setting sail to Europe from Corpus Christi, Texas

The ship crossed the Atlantic and discharged the LPG via ship-to-ship transfer in the Mediterranean, while the ammonia was discharged at Teesport for CF Industries UK.

The voyage required permission from the US Coast Guard, plus a risk assessment and planning with the ports, shipowner and operator Purus, and STS company International Fender Providers.

Trafigura said it managed the first STS transfer of ammonia for CF Industries in July 2024.

CF Industries is working on a carbon capture and sequestration project at Donaldsonville that will let it produce low-carbon (blue) ammonia, which is expected to start up in 2025.