On May 12, 2025, JR Shipping Group announced it has ordered two advanced, diesel-electric 8,500-ton ECO short sea dry cargo vessels from Chowgule Shipbuilding in India.
The new ships are part of an eight-vessel series developed in collaboration with Boomsma Shipping and Leonhardt & Blumberg, and designed by Conoship International in the Netherlands. JR Shipping will take delivery of vessels 6 and 8 in the series, with handovers scheduled for June 2027 and February 2028.
The vessels feature cutting-edge technology, including high cargo efficiency, diesel-electric propulsion with Volvo Tier III generators, and readiness for future energy-saving systems like wind-assisted propulsion and battery-powered operation. These advancements promise up to 90% reductions in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional ships.
This move also marks JR Shipping’s return to the dry cargo market, a sector it exited in 2019.
Characteristics of the new design:
- Extremely efficient in terms of cargo carrying capacity per energy unit.
- 8.500 ton deadweight – 13.900 cubic meter single hold – open top – complete tween deck.
- Optimised diesel-electric propulsion with 4 Tier III + SCR Volvo generators as propulsion, ready for lifetime extension and future fuels.
- 50% – 60% less propulsion energy needed compared to existing tonnage.
- Ready for innovations such as: wind assisted propulsion, carbon capture and emission free operation on batteries to lower emissions even further.
- 50% – 90% lower CO₂ emissions.
