Ulsan Port Authority supplies 800 tonnes of green ammonia to Terra Clove, the world's first ammonia dual-fuel VLAC, enhancing alternative marine fuels.
The Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) has strengthened its position in alternative marine fuels after supplying approximately 800 tonnes of green ammonia to Terra Clove, the world's first ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel Very Large Ammonia Carrier (VLAC).
Terra Clove is a newly launched 93,000 cubic metre vessel built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS). It received the fuel on October 25-26, 2026, at Pier 2 of Ulsan Main Port. UPA used the Pipe-to-Ship (PTS) method, which transfers fuel directly from shore-based facilities to the vessel through a pipeline.
Ulsan sits on the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula and faces the East Sea, with close access to shipping lanes linking Northeast Asia with Japan, the Pacific, and global markets. The city anchors South Korea's industrial heartland, with major refining and petrochemical complexes, automotive manufacturing, and shipbuilding. Ulsan Port is the country's largest industrial port and handles over 202 million tons of cargo annually. That scale positions it as a natural hub for next-generation marine fuels.
Ammonia dual-fuel vessels can run on both conventional marine fuel and ammonia. Because ammonia contains no carbon, burning it produces no carbon dioxide. Green ammonia is made using renewable energy, so it offers a pathway to near-zero-emission shipping. The dual-fuel design also allows operators to switch to conventional fuel on routes where ammonia supply is not yet available, which reduces operational risk while bunkering networks expand. The International Maritime Organization targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around 2050. Against that goal, these vessels mark a breakthrough toward zero-carbon maritime transport and provide cargo owners with a credible route to meeting tightening emissions requirements.
UPA carried out the operation through a public-private partnership with EPS, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and LOTTE Fine Chemical, which supplied the fuel.
'This project was a clear demonstration of the importance of strong collaboration and coordination with relevant authorities and industry partners to advance ammonia bunkering operations at Ulsan Port and in South Korea,' said BYEON Jaeyoung, President of UPA. 'Through our continued efforts, we aim to further establish Ulsan Port as a key hub for alternative marine fuel supply.'
The Terra Clove operation is the latest in a series of ammonia bunkering operations, including trials, that UPA has undertaken to build the infrastructure and operational framework for commercial services. In April 2026, UPA completed its first-ever green ammonia bunkering, supplying approximately 600 tonnes to a 45K-class gas tanker via the PTS method.
Each operation reinforces a reliable fuel supply for the low-carbon fleets that will move global trade.
