Stena RoRo Orders Two New Multi-Fuel E-Flexer RoPax Vessels for Long-Term Charter with Attica Group

Swedish shipping company Stena RoRo has placed an order for two new multi-fuel E-Flexer roll-on/roll-off passenger (RoPax) vessels at China’s CMI Jinling, Weihai Shipyard. These vessels, set to be the fourteenth and fifteenth in Stena RoRo’s E-Flexer series, will go on a long-term charter with Greek shipping company Attica Group and will operate in the Adriatic Sea. The ships, each measuring 240 meters in length, will feature multi-fuel engines capable of running on conventional marine fuel or biodiesel, be methanol-ready, and include battery notation for potential hybrid propulsion. Scheduled for delivery in April and August 2027, the vessels will be deployed under a 10-year bareboat charter, with an option for purchase after five years and a potential for two additional vessels. Panos Dikaios, CEO of Attica Group, emphasized that this agreement marks a significant advancement for the Greek ferry industry, enhancing environmental sustainability and travel experience. Per Westling, CEO of Stena RoRo, highlighted the bespoke design and versatility of the vessels, which align with the green transition of the Adriatic RoPax service.

CMA CGM Receives New 13,000 TEU LNG Dual-Fuel Containership CMA CGM Belem

French shipping major CMA CGM has taken delivery of the new 13,000 TEU liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel containership, CMA CGM Belem. The takeover ceremony took place on June 28, 2024, at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard. CMA CGM Belem is the fifth of six new 13,000 TEU dual-fuel boxships being built for CMA CGM by Hudong-Zhonghua. The vessel is 336 meters long, 51 meters wide, and 26.8 meters deep, with a service speed of 21 knots and a maximum capacity of 13,200 TEUs. Equipped with a 14,000 cbm Mark III LNG cargo containment system and the CMD-WinGD9X9DF-2.0 main engine, the ship features advanced technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% and methane slip by 50%. Additionally, the ship includes fuel-saving wind and energy-saving deflectors, improving efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This delivery follows the handover of CMA CGM Sao Paulo in May, CMA CGM Paraty in April, and CMA CGM Bahia last December.

OEG Energy Expands Leadership Team with New Subsea Director

OEG Energy Group (OEG) has appointed Rolf de Vries as Subsea Director for its offshore wind division, OEG Renewables. De Vries will join the OEG Renewables senior management team, guiding the division’s strategic direction and enhancing its resources and capabilities to support OEG’s growth plans. “I’m excited to be taking on this role as we pursue an ambitious growth strategy to expand OEG Renewables’ global operating footprint and value proposition,” said De Vries. He will collaborate with the topside, marine, and cable divisions to develop innovative integrated service solutions, increasing project efficiency and reducing interface risk for clients. De Vries will also continue as Managing Director of Bluestream Offshore in Den Helder, Netherlands, acquired by OEG in December 2023. OEG Renewables Subsea division offers in-house expertise in diving, ROVs, unexploded ordnance, seabed preparation, excavation, subsea cables, and survey and positioning, with Bluestream operating as a subsidiary and expanding the division’s skilled workforce to over 500 people.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Equips Second Bulk Carrier with Innovative Wind Power System

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has successfully installed the Wind Challenger hard sail wind power propulsion system on the Ultramax bulk carrier Green Winds, built by Oshima Shipbuilding. This 63,896 dwt vessel is the second of nine MOL Group ships to be equipped with the innovative device, which utilizes telescoping hard sails to convert wind energy into propulsive force. Notably, Green Winds is also the worlds first crane vessel to feature this technology, which is expected to cut fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by 7%-16%, contingent on the route and conditions. Earlier in the year, MOLs coal carrier Shofu Maru reported fuel savings of up to 17% daily using the Wind Challenger. Aiming for net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, MOL plans to launch 25 such vessels by 2030 and 80 by 2035. This initiative includes seven new bulk carriers and multi-purpose vessels, with six being newly built and one in-service coal carrier, Kurotakisan Maru III, marking the first retrofit of this kind.

Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Secures Order for Methanol Dual-Fuel Kamsarmax Bulk Carriers from ORIX Corporation

Japanese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has received an order from compatriot financial services company ORIX Corporation to construct two methanol dual-fuel Kamsarmax bulk carriers, marking ORIXs first venture into methanol-fueled ships. Announced on July 8, these vessels will be built at Tsuneishi Group’s Zhoushan shipyard and are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 15% and sulfur oxides by about 95% compared to traditional ships. Additionally, ORIX has ordered one bulk carrier from Oshima Shipbuilding, which will be constructed at the Koyagi shipyard. All three ships will comply with EEDI Phase 3 standards, effective from 2025, promoting a lower environmental impact. ORIX’s acquisition of shipping company Santoku Senpaku in February 2024 aims to enhance asset management services and support maritime decarbonization. This new contract bolsters Tsuneishi Shipbuilding’s order book, as it progresses towards exclusively producing dual-fueled vessels by 2035, phasing out crude oil-based engines.