Co-loaded propane, ammonia vessel completes voyage
Trafigura, a provider of global commodities, in collaboration with ammonia producer CF Industries completed the first co-loaded ammonia and propane shipment operation of its kind, according to the companies.
In early January, the Green Power Medium Gas Carrier completed a single voyage from the United States to Europe loaded with ammonia from CF Industries and with propane in separate tanks.

Ammonia was loaded onto the Green Power from CF Industries’ Donaldsonville, Louisiana, manufacturing complex, and LPG was loaded into separate tanks of the vessel in Corpus Christi, Texas. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the LPG was discharged via a ship-to-ship operation in the Mediterranean for use in domestic heating, and the ammonia was discharged at Tees Port for CF Fertilisers UK.
“We transport LPG and ammonia from the U.S. to Europe on similar ships on a regular basis,” says Patricio Norris, global head of ammonia and LPG for Trafigura, in a company statement. “We can improve the economics for our customers and reduce emissions with fewer voyages by safely co-loading ammonia and LPG in the same vessel.”
The co-loaded vessel project was intended in part as a demonstration of capabilities needed for the efficient and economic transport of low-carbon ammonia to supply ports that may not require a full vessel of ammonia. The ability to co-load ammonia with LPG is one pathway to supporting the scale-up in availability of low emission fuels. Ammonia continues to be a leading alternative fuel candidate for applications such as coal co-firing as well as supporting the marine shipping industry transition from heavy fuel oil to alternatives with a lower carbon intensity, the companies say.
“We appreciate the partnership we have with Trafigura as we take steps together to help prepare for demand growth of low-carbon ammonia and the expected transition of the marine shipping industry to low-carbon ammonia as a fuel,” says Bert Frost, executive vice president, sales, market development and supply chain, CF Industries.