The shipping company Bernd Sibum has received funding from the German government to invest in sustainable ship technology. A co-investor from Oldenburg has also joined the project to upgrade the four shortsea newbuildings ordered from Damen Shipyards last year.
The funding will enable the four Combi Freighters (CF) 3850, which are currently being built in China, to be equipped with additional technologies to reduce emissions, Damen announced. This support is part of the NaMKü funding program (Sustainable Modernization of Coastal Ships) from the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), which also requires co-investment by the shipowner.
The newbuildings ordered by Sibum are being built at the Damen shipyard in Yichang (China). They will be capable to operate on 100% biofuel.
Shipping company Managing Director Bernd Sibum expressed his satisfaction:
“I am very grateful to the German government for the support we have received with the NaMKü award, which has enabled us to invest in these green technologies. I am also grateful to Damen for thinking along with us and preparing the ships so that they can be adapted quickly. I am confident that these ships will provide the market with the green tools it will need in the coming years. I am particularly pleased to have Mare Trust AG from Oldenburg in Germany as a co-investor for this project.”
According to the Dutch company, the funding will be used to convert the vessels to a hybrid drive with a PTO/PTI system, paving the way for fully electric propulsion. The ships will also be equipped with wind propulsion assistance. Another upgrade is the installation of VentoFoils, already in use on various other shortsea vessels. These systems can automatically adjust to prevailing wind conditions to reduce fuel consumption by approximately 12.5% annually.
Batteries will be used during maneuvering and for short periods in port. During extended port stays, the vessels can switch from battery operation to shore power. The upgrade, including extended shore power capacity, is designed to supply all onboard electrical systems with sufficient power.
Other features supported by the NaMKü funding include the installation of a heat recovery system that uses heat from the auxiliary engines to reduce gas oil consumption while in port. “With all these changes, the ships will be able to sail in port completely emission-free,” emphasizes the shipyard.
Sibum has been a customer of Damen for some time. Before placing the order, the shipping company obtained feedback from other operators of the CF3850 and was “impressed by the vessels’s operational efficiency and the positive experience reports”, it says.
According to the official Damen description, the CF 3850 type ship has a carrying capacity of 3,850 tons, measures 89.7 meters in lenght and 12.5 meters in width, and has a draught of 5.48 meters, and offers a hold volume of 5,250 cubic meters. It is considered a bestseller for the Dutch. Several German shipping companies have also ordered newbuildings of this type and put them into service, including the shipping companies Gerdes, Blue Fin, Elbe-Ems and Wessels.
