In the MPP short-sea shipping sector, a high-profile partnership has been formed for a major series of newbuilds: the shipping companies Wagenborg and Carisbrooke are entering into a strategic partnership for up to ten 7,400-tonne vessels.
As part of the collaboration, Royal Wagenborg – the market leader in the European short-sea shipping sector – will initially add eight newbuilds with a deadweight tonnage of 7,400 tonnes and ice class 1A to its fleet. The vessels are scheduled to enter service between the third quarter of 2027 and early 2029, with two further vessels planned as an option for mid-2029. They have been ordered from the Dajin Heavy Industries shipyard in China, with the design provided by the Dutch company Groot Ship Design.
“This investment underlines our ambition to remain the leading partner for industrial transport for export-oriented sectors in Europe and beyond. The new vessels are a key component of the long-term fleet strategy, which aims to achieve standardisation as well as operational efficiency and reliability,” according to a statement from the Dutch company.
Wagenborg is best known for its short-sea and MPP operations. However, the fleet now comprises over 160 vessels, including tugs and specialised offshore vessels. Managing Director Edwin de Vries said, referring to the planned “Baltic Sea” deployment of the newly ordered vessels: “This step confirms our strategy of strengthening our position in the markets where our customers rely on us most.”
With a deadweight of around 7,400 tonnes, the vessels are set to gradually replace older tonnage, thereby contributing to a younger, more efficient and sustainable fleet. Carisbrooke – which is itself also modernising its fleet – will take charge of technical management and crewing as part of the collaboration. The British shipping company currently operates a fleet of 20 vessels with deadweights ranging from 5,000 to 12,900 tonnes. Wagenborg is responsible for commercial management and will integrate the vessels into its chartering activities.
Carisbrooke CEO Helen Tveitan said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Wagenborg on this significant fleet expansion. By combining our expertise in technical and crew management with Wagenborg’s strong commercial platform, we are creating a solid foundation for long-term operational excellence.”
Technical specifications
- Length overall: 110.08 m
- Beam: 15.45 m
- Draught (summer): 6.50 m
- Deadweight tonnage: 7,400 t
- Cargo hold volume: 351,730 cbft
- GT: 4,999
- Ice class 1A
- Installed power: 2,190 kW
