Sallaum Lines is continuing to invest in new capacity: up to four new LNG carriers – the largest in the fleet to date – are being built by the Chinese shipbuilder XSI.
Sallaum Lines remains committed to growth. The company, which specialises in RoRo shipping, has placed an order for its largest newbuilds to date: the vessels will have a capacity of 8,600 CEU. Two new carriers have been firmly ordered, with an option for two more. They will be built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry (XSI) in China. Sallaum says the order is one of the “most significant fleet investments” in the company’s history.
The order follows the recent delivery of Sallaum Lines’ latest LNG dual-fuel vessels: the “Ocean Express” and the “Ocean Navigator”, each with a capacity of 7,400 CEU, were also built at a Chinese shipyard. The new order marks the next step in an accelerated fleet renewal programme. The Cyprus-based company plans to expand its capacity, improve flexibility and also drive forward the implementation of its sustainability plan. Sallaum Lines has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The two vessels will each be 199.9 m long, 38 m wide and have an air draught of 46 m. Five liftable decks are designed to prepare the ships for a “wide range of cargo”, from cars and light commercial vehicles to heavy project cargo.
“Meeting growing market demand”
“This order marks an important step in the next chapter of our company,” said Director Hasan Sallaum. “The new vessels not only represent an expansion of our fleet; they reflect the strategic direction of our business as well as our responsibility towards customers, partners and the future of shipping. Thanks to greater capacity, dual-fuel technology and a design that allows for future operation with ammonia, these vessels offer us the flexibility needed to meet growing market demand whilst investing in lower-emission transport solutions. For us, sustainability and economic growth are not separate goals, but aspects that must go hand in hand.”
The new ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of running on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and standard VLSFO and marine gas oil (MGO). The design as “ammonia-ready” (prepared for future ammonia operation) allows for future conversion as soon as appropriate supply chains for green ammonia become available. “This will make the fleet future-proof and adapt it to changing regulatory requirements – such as the IMO 2030 targets and the provisions of the EU Green Deal,” Sallaum Lines announced. In addition to introducing LNG-powered vessels, the shipping company is focusing on, among other things, on-board photovoltaics, hull lubrication technologies and antifouling coatings.
The order comes at a time of strong structural demand on Sallaum Lines’ established trade routes, the shipping company added. The company serves a portfolio of global car manufacturers whilst simultaneously expanding its presence among rapidly growing Chinese exporters.
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