Indian yard clinched by Norwegian player to build six fit-for-future chemical tankers

Indian shipbuilder Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has shaken hands with Norway-based shipping company Rederiet Stenersen for the construction of six future-proof 18,000 dwt chemical tankers.

As divulged by SDHI on November 10, the two parties signed a letter of intent (LoI) for the building of the IMO Type II hybrid tankers under a contract worth approximately $220 million. The contract reportedly includes an option for an additional sextet under the same vessel class.

The handover dates for the ships have not yet been disclosed by either party.

According to SDHI, the chemical tankers are going to be designed by Norwegian firm Marinform AS, classed by the Oslo-headquartered DNV, and constructed at the shipbuilder’s facility in Pipavav, Gujarat.

SDHI’s officials have added that each unit is to be built to Ice Class 1A standards and fitted with an “advanced” hybrid propulsion system that will enable the ships to achieve better maneuverability as well as minimal emissions.

As elaborated, each tanker is to be built to allow for future conversion to use methanol or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. Owing to these alternative fuel sources, the sextet could accomplish ‘tremendous’ reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

To be specific, if the vessels should run on LNG (the most mature clean fuel at the moment), they could cut up to 23% of GHG emissions, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations, such as those set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), by at least 2039, according to recent data released by industry coalition SEA-LNG.

On the other hand, if the tankers are converted to service routes while running on methanol, which has, on top of ammonia, been seen as one of the most attractive new energy sources among maritime stakeholders, they would be able to nearly completely eradicate certain pollutants, like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx), beyond just lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

What is more, as noted, the design of Rederiet Stenersen’s upcoming hybrid units includes the option to upgrade their battery capacity up to 5,000 kWh, which could pave the way for further improvements in environmental performance and adaptability for alternative fuels and technological solutions.

Once the tankers are handed over, Rederiet Stenersen—which is headquartered in the city of Bergen—will own a fleet of well over 20 chemical/product tankers spanning in size from 13,000 to 18,500 dwt. Should the additional option be exercised, that digit would surpass 30. The vessels that the company presently owns are said to be deployed primarily in the North European trade.