January 29, 2024 [Splash]- Broking sources report Japanese shipping line Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has joined the rush for very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) newbuilds in South Korea.

The Tokyo-headquartered behemoth has been placed behind an order for three ships at HD Hyundai’s shipyard in the southeastern port of Ulsan.

The deal worth around $366m will see the vessels delivered by the end of June 2028, with the first newbuild, according to Clarksons, set to join the fleet in December 2027.

NYK recently signed for a mid-sized ammonia-fuelled ammonia carrier, which will be built at Japan Marine United’s Ariake yard and delivered by November 2026. The order for the VLAC trio follows a series of newbuilds booked at shipyards under the holdings of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), including Greece’s TMS Cardiff Gas and Alpha Gas as well as Qatar’s Nakilat, Norway’s Solvang and Turkey’s PascoGas.

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