Steel cut for Samskip SeaShuttle
Samskip intends to deploy its newbuildings on green corridors between the European continent and Scandinavia (Source: Samskip)
A steel-cutting ceremony for the Samskip SeaShuttle has been held at Cochin Shipyard in India. The vessel is the first of two zero-emission short-sea container ships being built for the Rotterdam-based logistics company, Samskip, and has been designed to use green hydrogen as fuel.
Samskip intends to deploy the two vessels on green corridors between the European continent and Scandinavia. In zero-emission mode, the boxships are expected to achieve carbon dioxide reductions of about 25,000 tonnes a year. They will also be capable of using green shore power during port calls.
Samskip has received financial support for the vessels’ construction from the Eurazeo Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure (ESMI) fund. It expects to take delivery of the first ship during the second half of 2025.
Noting the strategic significance of the Cochin building contracts, the company hosted ‘The Samskip Sustainability Day’ at the end of February. Maritime experts, municipality representatives, customers, and others attended events staged in Rotterdam and Oslo to hear presentation and participate in discussions on the new age of sustainable logistics, the company explained.
After the event, Samskip Group CEO, Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, said: "Our Sustainability Day event went smoothly, and I am so proud to see the many stakeholders from different disciplines discussing and brainstorming together. That is why we brought all these honoured guests together. They did not disappoint."
“We walked away inspired, as we pushed for accountability and teamwork. The time of just talking about sustainability is over, and I am hopeful, having experienced our guests working for a better tomorrow. It all starts with us coming together, then great things happen,” he added.
Are Grathen, the company’s regional director, Norway & Sweden Multimodal, commented: "It has been a long journey, but I always had faith in this project from the start. I have had the pleasure of being involved from the beginning and helped get both our Norway and Rotterdam teams aligned."
“The SeaShuttle will provide a great green corridor, and it’s really inspiring to see the leadership and commitment of our customers who have already booked space on this service. Now we go from planning to building,” he declared.
