Vessel ECO MAESTRO
The industry’s first Green Feeder Network was announced to be launched by a Singapore-based shipper X-Press Feeders. This network is slated for launch in the Baltic by 2024.
X-Press currently operates a fleet exceeding 100 vessels and anticipates the commissioning of 14 new dual-fuel ships scheduled to commence service next year, forming the backbone of the green feeder initiative.
These 14 ships are under construction at Sumec’s Yangzhou New Dayang Shipbuilding Company in Shanghai, China. Engineered by German naval architects TECHNOLOGY Services, they utilize MAN’s 5S50ME dual-fuel engine, specifically crafted to operate on eco-friendly methanol.
The maiden service, led by the first vessel named “ECO MAESTRO” boasting 13,900 deadweight tonnage (dwt) and have a capacity of 1200 TEU. The ship is slated for delivery in the first quarter of 2024. It will be stationed at the port of Rotterdam, servicing ports across Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
The ECO MAESTRO’s inaugural voyage will be from Shanghai to Rotterdam, via the Suez Canal. The trip is to be entirely fueled by bio-methanol. Although X-Press Feeders acknowledges the current scarcity of bio-methanol, it is actively engaging with ports along its routes to facilitate methanol bunkering.
Each of the 14 new ships will adopt an open-top design, optimizing container capacity by lowering the vessel’s center of gravity. These 148-meter-long vessels are designed for a speed of 14 knots, incorporating energy-efficient features like shaft generators, energy-saving propellers, and underhung flap rudders.
Furthermore, the ships will be equipped with a single-person control bridge, an automated electronic chart navigation system, and a track-keeping system aimed at enhancing vessel efficiency.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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