EMEA News
Dual-Fuel Vessels Ordered for Short Sea Shipping
Two dual-fuel containerships will begin serving European short-sea routes in 2016, according to Containerships Ltd Oy (Containerships), GNS Shipping/Nordic Hamburg (GNS), and Arkon Shipping.
The ships will be capable of running on either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or heavy fuel oil (HFO).
The 45-foot vessels, which will operate in the North and Baltic Seas, will have a total capacity of 1,400 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) with room for up to 300 refrigerated units (reefers).
The ships' generators, as well as its engines, will use the dual-fuel technology, providing environmentally friendly power for the reefers and other electrical uses.
GNS will be the ships' owner and technical manager, while containerships will charter the ships for the long term, and Akron will be the commercial manager and charter broker.
"Every crisis creates opportunities," said Ole Gabs of Arkon Shipping.
"Today, after 100 years of using IFO fuel as the main product for running ship engines, and with the upcoming introduction of new SECA regulations, we are facing a paradigm shift.
"Energy-efficient, eco-friendly ships are the future of shipping."
With the delivery of the ships, Containerships says, it will be the first short-sea operator in Europe to run ships on LNG.
While most operators in the European SECA plan to switch fuels to marine gas oil (MGO), at least in the short run, Containerships said its strategy is to "stay ahead of the curve when it comes to environmental regulations, and to be a pioneer in eco-friendly shipping while continuing to offer its customers the best value for money."
In addition to essentially eliminating sulfur dioxide (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions, the companies said, using LNG will cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 25 percent.
Aside from using MGO or LNG, some European ship owners are choosing to install emissions scrubbers, a route Finnlines has just announced it is taking.
