Dutch shipping company JR Shipping has signed a contract with India’s Chowgule Shipbuilding to build two 8,500 DWT diesel-electric ECO short-haul dry cargo vessels, which are scheduled to be delivered at the end of June 2027 and the end of February 2028 respectively.
The two newbuildings made public are part of a series of eight vessels being built by JR Shipping in close cooperation with Dutch short-haul owner Boomsma Shipping and German owner Leonhardt & Blumberg.
In November 2023, Boomsma Shipping and Leonhardt & Blumberg jointly ordered 4+4 8,500 DWT diesel-electric ECO short-haul dry cargo vessels at the Chowgule Shipbuilding in India, with deliveries expected to start in the fall of 2025. According to the latest news, JR Shipping’s 2 vessels are No. 6 and vessel No. 8 vessel of the 2023 order.
The new vessels are equipped with an optimized diesel-electric propulsion system, equipped with four Tier III + SCR Volvo generators as a propulsion system, which can extend its service life and use future fuels. Compared with existing ships, the new vessels can reduce energy consumption requirements by 50%-60%, resulting in a significant reduction of emissions by 50-90%.
In addition, the new vessels will be equipped with innovative technologies such as wind assist systems, carbon capture and electric zero-emission operation to further reduce emissions.
The two new vessels are part of JR Shipping’s broader strategy to strengthen its fleet, including feeder container vessels, dry cargo vessels and offshore vessels. By investing in these new low-emission vessels, the company demonstrates its commitment to sustainable practices and its proactive attitude towards meeting future maritime logistics needs.
Notably, the order also marks JR Shipping’s return to the dry cargo shipping sector. In 2019, JR Shipping announced its temporary exit from the short-haul dry cargo market after selling the last 5,000-tonne dry cargo vessel in its fleet and said it would return to the market in the future.