ITOCHU advances clean ammonia bunkering with world-first vessel project in Singapore

The agreements were executed through Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping (CABS), a wholly owned special purpose vehicle based in Singapore. In parallel, CABS has secured partial financing for the vessel through a loan agreement with The Hiroshima Bank.

The initiative forms part of an ammonia bunkering demonstration project in Singapore, selected by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) under its Global South Future-Oriented Co-Creation Project. This programme supports large-scale energy transition initiatives across ASEAN member states.

Once delivered, the ammonia bunkering vessel will enable offshore bunkering operations via ship-to-ship transfer, positioning Singapore as a pioneering hub for ammonia fuel supply. ITOCHU intends to leverage this capability to engage with key maritime stakeholders—including the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and global ammonia producers—with backing from the Japanese government.

The project aims to catalyse early-stage demand for clean ammonia as a marine fuel by linking first movers in ammonia production with operators of ammonia-powered vessels. Establishing this initial supply chain is seen as a critical step towards the commercialisation of ammonia bunkering services in Singapore.

Looking ahead, ITOCHU plans to replicate the business model at other strategic global maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain), the Suez Canal (Egypt), and key locations in Japan, as the industry seeks scalable, low-carbon alternatives to conventional marine fuels.