Displaying items by tag: Vessel

New Zealand: Golden Bay Cement has resolved the breakdown of its Marine Vessel Aotearoa Chief (MVAC) earlier than anticipated, returning the vessel to service after necessary checks with marine authorities. The company made use of alternative transport options to distribute cement and sourced alternative cement supplies due to the disruption.

The earlier resolution has resulted in a reduced impact on earnings, estimated to be on the lower end of US$10m – 30m.

Canada: Finland-based Wärtsilä will provide a hybrid-electric propulsion system for an 11,000t-capacity limestone carrier, commissioned by CSL Group with China-based CCCC Shanghai Equipment Engineering and Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding. The order supports CSL Group’s decarbonisation strategy by optimising engine and battery load and reducing fuel consumption.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery to CSL Group in 2026 and will initially operate on a hybrid diesel and battery system, transitioning to full electric power by 2031 to reduce carbon emissions by 90%, according to CSL Group. Wärtsilä will supply the whole hybrid electric propulsion system, including generators, DC hub, energy management system, main propulsion e-motors, bow thruster e-motors and battery solution.

The director of Electrical & Power Systems at Wärtsilä Marine, Torsten Büssow, said "Wärtsilä is committed to making decarbonised shipping possible, so we are delighted to be supporting CSL with solutions that enhance the sustainability of their fleet. This is a short sea shipping vessel that will operate with a lot of manoeuvring and variable load profiles, and electrification and hybridisation systems are the most efficient for such vessels."

Italy: NovaAlgoma, a joint venture between the Italian-Swiss Nova Marine Carriers and Canada's Algoma Central Corporation, has announced the construction of the ‘world’s largest and greenest’ cement carrier, weighing 38,000t. This vessel will be built by Xinle Shipbuilding in China and delivered by the end of 2026. It will reportedly be the first to use both traditional fuel and methanol and can connect to electrical grids in ports to eliminate emissions, according to local news reports. Additionally, it will feature a waste heat recovery system that converts exhaust gases into 250kW of electrical energy.

Vincenzo Romeo, CEO of Nova Marine, said "This new construction, which meets the forecasts for the development of our fleet and the growth of cement market demand in the coming years, is intended to consolidate our positioning among the global leaders in cement transportation.”

India: Ambuja Cements has launched a new bulk cement vessel unloader at Karanja Port. This installation will facilitate swift movement of cement from the Sanghipuram plant to Mumbai.

The new unloader will increase the capacity utilisation of the Sanghipuram plant. This move is part of Ambuja Cements' strategy to optimise operational efficiency and reduce logistical challenges.

Cyprus/Canada: Eureka Shipping has announced the construction of a new cement carrier for operation in the Great Lakes, designed to replace two older vessels whilst maintaining the same cargo capacity. The vessel will discharge cargo at rates of up to 1000t/hr.

The carrier is currently under construction by the Holland Shipyard Group in the Netherlands and is scheduled for delivery in 2025. Until then, the MV Sunnanvik will service its trade routes in the region from April 2024.

Sri Lanka: Tokyo Cement has added a fifth vessel, MV Mohar, to its fleet of cement transport ships in August 2015. The ship is a 22,000t pneumatic bulk cement carrier.

"Logistics is an integral part of our business and the increase in local demand has required us to enhance our capacities not just in transportation, but manufacturing and energy generation. We are always striving to improve our business performance because doing so is Tokyo Cement's contribution to building Sri Lanka and ensuring strong, sustainable development," said Tokyo Cement Group Managing Director S R Gnanam.

With a 1Mt/yr production capacity increase in Trincomalee, the new vessel will transport cement to the Colombo Port in order to distribute more efficiently. "The cement industry is often described as a barometer of a country's march to economic development and prosperity. What we are currently seeing is a surge in demand for products and services, which is a good indicator of market confidence. Over the last three decades, Tokyo Cement has built itself up to become one of Sri Lanka's most valuable brands, with an installed capacity of over 2Mt/yr of cement, over 600 employees and US$149m in assets. Our success reflects the continuing growth of Sri Lanka and its economy," said Gnanam.