Norway’s Amon Maritime has announced that the company has been awarded investment grants of NOK 298m from the Norwegian state enterprise owned by the ministry of climate and environment Enova, to support the construction of three new ammonia-fuelled bulk carriers.

The drybulk vessels in the kamsarmax segment, with a capacity of approximately 80,000-85,000 dwt, are designed to combine “high energy efficiency with carbon free fuel,” reads the company’s statement.

As informed, the newbuilds are designed to align with the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the FuelEU Maritime regulation.

André Risholm, chief executive officer of Amon Maritime, commented: “This grant provides the foundation to move forward with three additional Kamsarmax vessels. It marks a significant milestone for Amon Bulk and for the shipping industry’s green transition.”

Amon Maritime said that with the latest award, Amon Bulk has now secured more than NOK 552m from Enova to build five ammonia-powered bulk carriers. The first two were announced earlier this year, with three more now added to the program.

All five ships are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2030.