Dutch partners order two multi-purpose coasters

Longship Group BV and VMS Shipping have ordered two 6,080dwt multi-purpose tweendeckers at Bijlsma Shipyard, part of the Veka Shipbuilding Group, at a cost of EUR 21 million. The joint venture partners will split management responsibility for the vessels between them, with Longship handling commercial matters and VMS in charge of technical operation.

The two vessels are of the Bijlsma Trader 6000 design, with a length of 103.5m, a cargo capacity of 7,646m³, and suitable for heavy cargo. They are scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022.

The coasters will incorporate a range of emission-saving features. Low-power engines of 1,600 kW will drive controllable pitch propellers with nozzles; they will have shore power connections and heat recovery systems; and they will also have ECO performance monitoring software. As a result, the vessels will consume about 20% less fuel and have significantly lower emissions than similar ships, the companies said.

Øyvind Sivertsen, managing partner and CEO of Longship, commented: “This is a milestone in Longship’s eleven years’ history. As industrial carrier, we further implement our vision of a homogenous modern fleet. Longship serves and fully meets the requirements and priorities of our industrial customers. We are continuously looking into expansion possibilities and new technologies to ensure sustainable growth that will keep our fleet up-to-date and future-proof.”