Vertom welcomes 1st methanol/hydrogen-ready electric bulk carrier

Dutch short sea shipping company Vertom Group has taken delivery of the first in a series of six diesel-electric dry bulk vessels from compatriot Thecla Bodewes Shipyards.

As informed, the delivery of MV VERTOM PATTY took place in the Netherlands on 22 December. The ship was launched in September this year.

MV Vertom Patty is the first 7,000 dwt diesel-electric multi-purpose dry cargo vessel of a series of six of the LABRAX design the Dutch yard is building. 

The LABRAX 7,000 DWT cargo vessels are specially developed to Vertom’s requirements. The vessels, with a length of 118.60 meters and a breadth of 14.30 meters, are being developed and constructed at Thecla Bodewes Shipyards facility in Kampen, in collaboration with Dutch suppliers and subcontractors.

During detail engineering, CFD optimization of the hull design was performed for a fuel-efficient speed-power performance powered by a future proof modular electric propulsion system.

This system distributes the vessel’s energy load more efficiently, by using several smaller engines that adjust to the current sailing profile for the most efficient combustion.

This hybrid concept is designed to be ready for future developments, because of the possibility to make the vessel’s propulsion methanol-electric or hydrogen-electric, according to the company.

With the delivery of the vessel, the company hopes to meet its target to reduce carbon intensity by 40% by 2030.

Further deliveries are scheduled from 2022 to mid-2025.

To speed up its emission reduction targets, Vertom also plans to install wind-assist VentoFoil units on multiple vessels by the end of this year.

As part of the first fleet order for Econowind, the VentoFoil units – the next generation of VentiFoils – will be retrofitted on the general cargo vessels MV Progress and MV Perfect owned by Vertom.