Norway-based company Halten Bulk is renewing its fleet and has contracted Jiangsu Soho Marine Heavy Industry to build two 7100 dwt self-discharging vessels, with an option for two more.
Designer Norwegian Ship Design has designated vessel design NSD 105CC. The vessels are designed with a particular focus on superior sailing performance in order to maximise the direct contribution from wind – nature’s own renewable energy source – from rotor sail assistance. In addition, the vessels will feature a hybrid-electric propulsion system including a shaft generator and battery pack, an electric excavator and several additional energy-efficiency measures. The newbuildings are said to represent a major step forward in sustainable low-emission sea transport at competitive prices.
The vessels will primarily operate in the spot market along the Norwegian coast, in the North Sea, the Nordic region and the Baltic, in line with Halten Bulk’s existing fleet.
The Jiangsu Soho Marine Heavy Industry yard impressed with a thorough and detailed technical review process and a positive, solution-oriented approach. The contracts are already effective for the first two vessels, and Halten Bulk has secured options for two additional units.
Ivar Ulvan, MD Halten Bulk, said: “This is a major day for the company as we now replace older tonnage with new low-emission vessels. The vessels now contracted are a natural continuation of the ‘Powered by Nature’ concept developed by Egil Ulvan Rederi in close cooperation with The Norwegian Ship Design Company. The ship is primarily designed to harness the energy available in wind – delivering some of the most advanced sailing performance achieved in a cargo vessel to date. The new ships will provide our employees with an excellent workplace and, importantly, deliver significant emission reductions for our customers at competitive prices. This is a natural step before zero-emission fuels become commercially available. Our great-grandfather built motor vessels with auxiliary sails – one hundred years later, the circle is complete.”
Gjermund Johannessen, Norwegian Ship Design Company MD, added: “As a company, we have worked purposefully to become a leader in the development and realization of bespoke, energy-efficient low and zero emission ship designs. Halten Bulk, Egil Ulvan Rederi and the Norwegian Ship Design Company have enjoyed close cooperation over a long period. Key personnel from the companies have together developed and delivered a double-digit number of vessels. The ‘Powered by Nature’ concept is another example of this fruitful collaboration.”
Image: Halten Bulk’s new rotor sail-assisted bulk carrier design (source: Norwegian Ship Design)
