On February 13, it was reported that Norwegian short-haul bulk carrier owner Halten Bulk has placed an order with Jiangsu Soho Chuangke Shipbuilding for 2+2 7,100 DWT self-discharging bulk carriers. These new vessels are intended to help the owner modernize his fleet and provide flexibility for testing new propulsion technologies in the shortsea dry bulk sector.
This type of self-unloading bulk carrier adopts the NSD 105CC hull design from Norwegian ship design firm and is equipped with rotary sails, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in coastal shipping through a holistic solution. The new vessel is specifically designed for wind-assisted propulsion technology and is equipped with a hybrid power system that includes a shaft generator and battery pack; the cargo handling system will be fully electrified, while other energy-saving measures are also implemented.
After delivery, these new vessels will be put into immediate market operation in the Norwegian coast, the North Sea, the Nordic region, and the Baltic Sea. The wind conditions and short voyages in these areas make wind-assisted propulsion technology and hybrid power solutions commercially viable.
A Halten Bulk representative stated, “This new shipbuilding project is a milestone for the company in replacing its aging fleet with new, low-emission vessels.”
Halten Bulk, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Trondheim, currently operates a fleet of self-unloading bulk carriers focused on the North Sea and Baltic Sea routes. The company was jointly established by Brødrene Nordbø, Egil Ulvan, and Strand Shipping.
In addition to the new ship order, Halten Bulk is also developing two hydrogen-fueled dry bulk carriers in Norway, a project supported by funding from Enova (Norwegian Energy Agency). The two funded hydrogen-fueled bulk carriers are 88 meters long and feature a design combining hydrogen fuel combustion engines and battery power, along with two sets of sail propulsion systems.
This is Jiangsu Soho Chuangke Shipbuilding’s first publicly announced new ship order in 2026. According to incomplete statistics, the shipyard will undertake the construction of at least 11 new vessels of two types (including alternatives) in 2025. These include 4+2+2+2 12,500 DWT multipurpose heavy-lift vessels ordered by German shipowner HS Schiffahrt and 1 8,000 DWT dry cargo ship ordered by Norwegian shipowner Arriva Shipping.