Another MPP newbuilding order is going to India: Dutch shipping company Vertom is ordering a series of 10,700-ton vessels from the Chowgule shipyard. The tweendeckers are described by Vertom as part of a fleet renewal program. Delivery of the ships is planned for 2027 and 2028.
The Dutch company announced that the contract had been signed. The newbuilds are designed to “meet the requirements of modern shipping and incorporate the latest technology for safety, crew welfare, fuel efficiency and operational flexibility”, it says.
Vertom relies on tweendeckers with cranes
The Vertom Group is one of the largest players, particularly in the short-sea shipping sector and currently operates a fleet of over one hundred vessels ranging from 1,500 to 12,000 dwt.
Whereas the shipping company ordered its last newbuildings in Europe it is now taking the step towards India. A number of shipping companies have recently followed this path, with AtoB@C and Leonhardt & Blumberg also receiving newbuildings from Chowgule. But other shipyards in India are also increasingly active in this segment, as shown by orders from Carsten Rehder, HS Schiffahrt and Navi Merchant.
With a carrying capacity of 10,700 t and a gross volume of 14,243 m³, the vessels ordered by Vertom are equipped with tween decks to maximise flexibility in cargo transport, and two cranes will also be installed. Once in service, they will be powered by Tier III-compliant engines equipped with an SCR system to comply with IMO regulations. The drive system will consist of a main engine and two diesel-electric units. To further optimise fuel consumption, a 910 kWh battery pack will also be integrated.
Arjan de Jong, CEO of Vertom, said: “Tweendeckers with cranes are essential to our fleet renewal strategy as we replace the current vessels in the ECL service.” The vessels, which can be recognised by their pink design, will be deployed on the route between Europe and the north coast of South America – in the Europe Caribbean Line (ECL) liner service operated in partnership with Vertraco Shipping.
