NovaAlgoma, the joint venture between the Italian Swiss-based Nova Marine Group (owned by Romeo and Gozzi Family) and the Canadian Algoma Central Corporation, has signed a newbuilding contract for a cement carrier to be built at the Chinese shipyard Xinle Shipbuilding.
The 38,000 dwt cement carrier is said to be the largest cement carrier ever built and is expected for launching by end of 2026 and is already committed for a long term contract with one of the historical clients of the Group.
The ordered vessel will be classed by RINA and be the first methanol dual- fuel cement carrier being capable of burning either fuel or methanol (other units of the Group’s cement fleet are already dual-fuel but use LNG).
“She will definitely achieve “zero emissions” in ports being equipped for cold ironing,” as Nova Marine Carriers claims in its statement.
Moreover, she will be equipped with an innovative “Air lubricating system”. It is a system working on the concept of air injected under the flat bottom of the ship through micro air cavities and acting to reduce drastically the sea water resistance leading to increased efficiency, fuel consumption reduction and ultimately lower emissions.
The vessel will also be with a waste heat recovering system of both Main and Auxiliary Engines exhaust gases this being recycled to generate 250 Kw of available electricity instead of being dispersed in the atmosphere.
“This highly valuable new entry implements the Group’s fleet development strategy and is aimed to address the significant increase of cement demand we expect in the years to come – says Vincenzo Romeo, CEO of Nova Marine Group – and definitely strengthen our position among the world’s leaders in the cement carrier sector with 35 units active worldwide. For our Group, it definitely represents a milestone, it is a tangible sign of our concrete and strong efforts towards a green fleet and makes ourselves proud for the adoption of such trailblazing solutions”.
