Versatile Dutch-designed cargo vessel tonnage has attracted further investment by the country’s northern shipowning and shipmanagement community.
Groningen-based ForestWave Navigation has opted for two 12,500dwt examples of the Ecobox XL series developed by Dutch shipbuilder Ferus Smit. The geared, multipurpose vessels will be constructed at the company’s affiliated yard over the border at Leer, in Germany, with deliveries scheduled during 2024 and 2025.
ForestWave Navigation has ordered two EcoBox XL newbuildings, further improving the environmental profile of its multipurpose fleet (pictured).
The Ecobox XL ‘polyvalent’ carrier offers a particular capability for loading and transporting extra long and indivisible items such as windmill blades, while suited to the gamut of general trades both short-sea and further afield. The box-shaped hold can be adapted with a complete, moveable tweendeck and is plumbed by two portside-mounted, 85t-capacity cranes.
The superstructure is placed on the foreship, giving shelter to deck cargo or to the hold when sailing in ‘open-top’, hatchcoverless format. The arrangements facilitate the working of oversized and project cargoes, including items of up to 100m length on the tank top, and 112m on the tweendeck.
The hull has been specified to 1A ice class standard and will feature the Ferus Smit bulbless, Canoe-type bow, proven to reduce fuel consumption while rendering better seakeeping performance and speed maintenance in harsh weather and sea state conditions.
The primary power installation will be a 3,300kW, Tier III-certified engine driving a nozzled, controllable pitch propeller running in fully automatic, combinator mode. The system will provide for potential future operation on bio blend fuel.
Each newbuild will also be fitted with an ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) waste heat generator, contributing to overall fuel savings and to what is promised as an “ultra low” Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). The ships will meet Green Passport classification criteria.
Founded in 2003, ForestWave Navigation commercially operates 35 multipurpose cargo vessels in the 6,000-12,500dwt range, and has further such ships under its technical management.
