The Norwegian joint venture between the Bergen based companies Peak Group and Grieg Edge, Skarv Shipping Solutions (Skarv), has signed a firm contract with Huanghai Shipbuilding for four 7,000 dwt, low-carbon, multipurpose vessels, as the company announces.
The contract agreed is for four ships, with an option for another two plus two ships with the first vessel to be delivered in the third quarter of 2025, whilst the others in four-month intervals.
The Norway-based ship designer LMG Marin has designed the ships based on the core competence of Peak Group and Grieg Edge, with vital contribution from Grieg Shipbrokers, as it is mentioned by Skarv.
The ordered vessels have the following details: 108.2m loa, 18.1m beam, 7,000 tons deadweight, 6,650 tons cargo loading capacity, 6.5m summer draft, 10,120 m3 hold volume, 65.25 X 13.80 X 10.30m hold size and 1,600 m2 cargo area (open deck).
Skarv states that the design includes an optimised engine ready for ammonia or methanol, batteries, a shore-power system, peak shaving with a dynamic propeller drive system, and a high-voltage switchboard prepared for future green power production like fuel cell technologies and increased battery capacity.
Furthermore, the vessels will have open-top functionality enabling the movement of high vertical cargo, a wide deck beam for extra cargo intake, heavy-duty hatches, and tweendecks. The ships also have the accommodation in front to ensure visibility, increased deck space, and protection of cargo.
Jan-Petter Slethaug, Chair of Skarv and CEO of Peak Group said: “For our customers, this means you will be able to transport your cargo with a notably lower emission of greenhouse gasses and still show a remarkable efficiency in cargo handling and cost.”
Jan Øivind Svardal, CEO Skarv said that “These ships are far more climate-friendly than what we see in the short-sea market in Europe today, with a very low fuel consumption. They are not what we imagine is the final climate solution for shipping, but they are a giant step in the right direction.”
Nicolai Grieg, Managing Director of Grieg Edge said that “There is considerable demand for reduced carbon emissions related to industry projects in Europe, and these ships will be ideal for many of these. The ships’ flexible design enables a potential transition to lower emission fuels upon delivery, provided that the market and infrastructure permit, even though they are not fully capable of zero emissions at present.”
