Hamburg-based Containerships, a subsidiary of the French CMA CGM, announced it took delivery of its second LNG-powered ship, ‘Containerships Polar’, to operate in Northern Europe. The ship will be phased into the redesigned BALT 2 service in the Port of Rotterdam on 23 June.
Malta Freeport Terminals welcomed the first ever LNG-fueled container ship to visit Malta during the course of the vessel’s maiden voyage from Asia to Rotterdam. The ‘Containerships Polar’ discharged more than 560 containers during its call to Malta.
GasLog and GasLog Partners decided to assume commercial control of their ships currently operating in the LNG carrier spot market through The Cool Pool. The Cool Pool is an LNG carrier pooling agreement between GasLog and Golar, focusing on spot fixtures of up to 12 months in duration.
South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries has received an approval in principle for a VLCC ‘eco-tanker’ design, capable of using a combination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) mixed with LNG as fuel and Norsepower’s rotor sail solution for wind-assisted propulsion.
Canadian transport company Seaspan Ferries announced it will be adding two new LNG – battery hybrid ferries to its fleet. With construction scheduled to begin in 2019, the vessels are expected to go into operation in 2021.
Australian shipbuilder Incat informed that has secured a contract to build the world’s largest aluminium ship. The company will construct the 130 metre long ship Buquebus, and it will operate between Argentina and Uruguay. Once completed, the ship will be the largest aluminium ferry ever built.
Norsepower Oy Ltd. announced that independent test results showed that Norsepower’s Rotor Sail technology has the potential to deliver savings on the Viking Line-owned and operated M/S Viking Grace. Long term LNG marine fuel savings is expected to be up to about 300 tonnes on annual basis.
The EU-funded project to expand the Swedish Port of Ystad and make it able to accommodate larger ferries started with a sod-turning ceremony on May 2. The project includes, in addition to two new ferry locations in Ystad Harbor, a new vessel to be fueled by LNG for the Polish shipping company Polferries.
The United European Car Carriers, jointly owned by NYK and Wallenius Lines, informed of a new contract to construct two new generation hybrid-powered PCTCs (Pure car truck carriers), expected to achieve 40% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
The continuous increase in the number of LNG-fueled ships are assisting the rise of several bunkering infrastructure along Europe. However, the English Channel will not see its first gas-fueled ship soon, as Brittany Ferries’ ‘Honfleur’, which was to be delivered in June, will now arrive later in 2019, as the yard experiences financial fines.
