Recently, Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes announced it has secured an order from Norwegian shipowner Aasen Shipping for a sixth 9,400 deadweight tonne hybrid bulk carrier. The new vessel is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2027.
This new vessel has an overall length of 120 meters, a width of 16 meters, a draft of 7.50 meters, a deadweight of 9,400 tonnes, and a gross tonnage of 5,700 tonnes. It is equipped with a large battery pack linked to the main and auxiliary engines. Its cargo handling equipment is electrically driven, which will reduce noise and emissions. In ports with shore power supply, these vessels can achieve fully zero-emission autonomous loading and unloading operations.
Aasen Shipping initially ordered two hybrid bulk carriers at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in 2019. The first ship, the “Aasfjell,” was delivered in 2021, and the second, the “Aasfoss,” was delivered in 2022. These were the world’s first battery-hybrid bulk carriers and, due to hybrid operations, can save 400 tonnes of fuel annually.
Subsequently, in 2023, the company returned to the Royal Bodewes shipyard to order three additional hybrid bulk carriers. Besides being hybrid, these three vessels also feature a methanol-ready design, with the main engine being a 2250 kW Wärtsilä 6L25 engine. The first of these ships was just delivered in November, with the remaining two scheduled for delivery and operation in April and September 2026.
This series of vessels combines a modern hull, battery packs, and variable frequency drives, resulting in significantly lower emissions and fuel consumption compared to similar ships on the market. Furthermore, the ships will hold the Italian classification society RINA’s additional class notation “Methyl Ethyl alcohol fuelled ready,” preparing them for future use of /ethanol fuel.
Aasen Shipping and Royal Bodewes stated that once green methanol becomes available, these vessels can be easily converted to run on green methanol power, enabling fully zero-emission operations both in port and during voyages.
It is understood that Aasen Shipping was established in 1981. It is a family-owned company headquartered in Mosterhamn, Norway, founded by Captain and shipowner Hans Martin Torkelsen in 1981. Its fleet operates 11 self-unloading bulk carriers with deadweight tonnages ranging from 3,500 to 9,500 tonnes.
Including the latest order, data from Clarksons shows that Royal Bodewes currently has a total orderbook of 24 vessels amounting to 149,340 deadweight tonnes. This includes 5 cement carriers and 19 general cargo ships, with delivery schedules extending until 2029.
