Yara Clean Ammonia (YCA) has signed a long-term shipping contract with Navigator Amon Shipping to secure access to two dual-fuel vessels, according to the company's announcement.

The two medium gas carriers (MGCs), each with 51,000 cbm capacity, are equipped with dual-fuel engines and ice-class notation. The vessels will provide year-round access to Northern Europe while enabling the use of renewable and low-emission fuels, YCA said.

According to the company, the time-charter agreements will reduce freight costs per tonne, strengthen margins, and enhance operational flexibility as part of YCA's strategy to build intercontinental supply chains.

"Building scalable, reliable supply chains is critical to unlocking the hydrogen economy. This contract is a logistical and cost-efficient way to move large volumes of ammonia to Europe, reducing operational bottlenecks and delivering economies of scale," said Hans Olav Raen, CEO of Yara Clean Ammonia.

Oeyvind Lindeman, Chief Commercial Officer of Navigator Gas, noted: "Navigator is actively expanding its work with Yara Clean Ammonia with the addition of two high-spec ammonia carriers, at a time when global demand for low-carbon commodities is accelerating."

Announced in July, Norway's Navigator Amon Shipping AS is an 80%-20% joint venture between Navigator Holdings and Amon Maritime with Navigator Holdings as the major shareholder. André Risholm, CEO of Amon Maritime, which specializes in ammonia-powered shipping solutions, stated: "Partnering with industry leaders such as Navigator Gas and Yara Clean Ammonia allows us to realize this vision and bring ammonia-powered transportation into commercial operation."

YCA operates what it describes as a global ammonia network with 15 ships and has access to 18 ammonia terminals through parent company Yara. The company reported revenues of $1.8bn and EBITDA of $117m for 2024.

Navigator Gas owns and operates a fleet of 58 semi- or fully-refrigerated liquefied gas carriers, 27 of which are ethylene and ethane capable.

The vessels are designed to meet environmental regulations and support the transport of clean ammonia for applications including shipping fuel, power generation, and industrial uses.