Furetank Rederi’s latest chemical tanker contract placed at China Merchants Jingling Shipyard incorporates design requirements that will ensure CII compliance until at least 2030, Lars Höglund, the Swedish company’s CEO told Seatrade Maritime News yesterday.
The 17,999 dwt tanker, number eleven in the Vinga-class series, will be 50% more carbon-efficient than early ships in the series, built around 15 years ago, Höglund said.
The ice-class vessel, with a capacity of 20,306 cu m in 12 epoxy-coated tanks, will run on /LBG fuel supported by a big battery pack to reduce auxiliary engine use. The ship will also be delivered shore-power ready, with a 6.6kV voltage setup for use in ports with suitable arrangements, and a flexible cargo pump and line arrangement for efficient cargo operations.
Höglund said that the company’s calculations confirm that the tanker will meet IMO carbon intensity indicator (CII) regulations throughout this decade and will still register a ‘C’ rating in 2030. However, the Furetank CEO believes that between now and then, chemical tankers may qualify for a ‘correction factor’ in CII assessments to account for frequent port calls, the handling of small cargo consignments, and relatively short voyages. This would bring them into line with other vessel types, such as feeder container ships, for which correction factors will be included in CII assessments.
Furetank, and its Donsö Island-based tanker-owning compatriots, have a long-standing relationship with the Chinese shipyard. Every contract, Höglund revealed, comes with one or two options. He conceded that the latest deal has closed at a higher price, owing to the rising costs of steel and shipboard components.
The latest Vinga-class tanker is due for delivery in July 2024.
