Dutch shipyard Concordia Damen has signed a contract for 40 eco-friendly LNG dual-fuel tankers financed by institutional investors advised by JP Morgan Asset Management
The-40 vessel deal has been brokered by Frachtcontor Capital Partners. Shell is the charterer and the vessels will be operated by VT Group/Marlow.
The 110-m long, 11.5-m wide vessels will have LNG propulsion and extreme shallow-draught capabilities – 2,800 tonnes on 3.25 m draught – to maximise cargo carrying capacity on Dutch, Belgian and German canal and river networks.
Shell freight trading manager Martin van Veen said, “Concordia Damen has a proven track record in the delivery of products that are highly efficient and sustainable. In addition, they have demonstrated their capabilities in the delivery of shallow-draught vessels – which is of importance to this project. We are looking forward to the collaboration.”
Concordia Damen chief operating officer Chris Kornet said, “We are very grateful to have received this order and are looking forward to beginning the work. This is yet again a validation of our efforts towards greater levels of sustainability in the inland shipping sector.”
JP Morgan Asset Management global head of transportation Andy Dacy said “We are excited and honoured to partner with Shell and Concordia Damen on this innovative and sustainable inland waterway project.”
The VT Group specialises in inland shipping, transporting minerals, chemical products, bio fuels and lubricants. The Parsifal tankers will transport mineral oils between Antwerp, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Rhine network.
Concordia Damen will begin constructing the tankers in December this year. The delivery of the first vessel will be in November 2021. After that, the yard will deliver another vessel each month, completing the order by December 2024.
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