A Norwegian cargo ship has been confirmed as the first vessel to use Wartsila’s new 25 Ammonia engine. Scheduled to enter service in summer 2027, the ship is positioned as a practical step toward cutting emissions in Norway’s coastal and short-sea shipping.
The vessel will be built in China at Huanghao shipyard. The project was developed by Skarv Shipping (Bergen), with Grieg Shipbrokers supporting the technology and shipyard agreement. Arriva Shipping will take the ship on time charter and handle commercial operations for Viken AT Market, a Norwegian timber company.
The ship will be a 7,800 dwt self-unloader with an overall length of 108 meters. Wärtsilä isn’t just supplying the engine, it’s delivering a full ammonia propulsion package, including the AmmoniaPac fuel gas supply system, the Wärtsilä Ammonia Release Mitigation System (WARMS), and an SCR system tailored for ammonia. Equipment deliveries are set to begin in Q4 2026.
Skarv Shipping says the vessel is designed to run most efficiently at lower speeds, helping keep operations economical even though ammonia is currently more expensive than conventional fuels. A 160 m³ ammonia tank, supported by marine gas oil (MGO) as a pilot fuel, is planned to cover a 14-day round trip between Norway and mainland Europe.
The company ships about 1 million tons of Norwegian timber to Europe each year, mostly on conventional diesel-powered vessels today.