Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bodewes reveals today that the Norwegian shipowner Aasen Shipping has placed an order for three new hybrid powered methanol-ready self-dischargers of 9.400 mt Dwat at the shipyard.
The new order of three new hybrid powered and methanol-ready self-dischargers follows after Royal Bodewes successfully built, and delivered the ‘Aasfjell’ and ‘Aasfoss’ in 2021 and 2022.
Delivery of the three new vessels is set for December 2025, April 2026 and September 2026, as the shipbuilder states.
The new ships ordered will have a similar design as the previous new buildings built for Aasen Shipping, but with some upgrades.
They will have a large battery pack, which will enable peak shaving for both main engine and auxiliary engine.
Furthermore, the cargo handling machine will also be electric, which will again reduce noise and emissions, and in ports where shore power is available, these new ordered ships can both self-load and self-discharge completely free of emissions.
The combination of a modern hull, battery pack and variable frequency drive, reduce emissions and fuel consumption to a much lower level than any comparable ships in the market the shipbuilders mention in their announcement.
Finally, the ships will hold the class notation “Methyl/Ethyl alcohol fuelled ready”.
Once green methanol is available “these ships can easily be rebuilt to consume green methanol, and operate completely emission-free, both in port and at sea,” the shipbuilder said.
Aasen Shipping is a family-owned ship owning company based in Mosterhamn, Norway, which was established by captain-owner Hans Martin Torkelsen in 1981. The company owns and operates today a fleet of nine self-discharging bulk carriers from 6.000 mt Dwat to 9.500 mt Dwat.
