Skarv Shipping Solutions – a joint venture between Peak Group and Grieg Edge – has signed a contract with Huanghai Shipbuilding for four shortsea 7,000 dwt multipurpose vessels, with an option for a further four units.
The first vessel will be delivered in the third quarter of 2025, with the following units delivered in four-month intervals. LNG Marin has designed the ships, which Skarv ceo Jan Øivind Svardal said, “are far more climate-friendly than what we see in the shortsea market in Europe today, with very low fuel consumption”. He added: “They are not what we imagine is the final climate solution for shipping, but they are a giant step in the right direction.”
The design includes an optimised engine ready for ammonia or methanol, batteries, a shore-power system, peak shaving with a dynamic propeller drive system, and a high-voltage switchboard prepared for future green power production like fuel cell technologies and increased battery capacity.
On the cargo handling side, the open-top design allows for the movement of high vertical cargo, a wide deck beam for extra cargo intake, heavy-duty hatches, and tweendecks. The ships also have the accommodation in front to ensure visibility, increased deck space and protection of cargo.
Skarv said that the deck space, in combination with its strength and good stability, makes the ships ideal for the transport of mid-size modules and wind turbine components, as well as almost all kinds of shortsea project cargo.
Part of Grieg Maritime Group, Grieg Edge develops green projects with industry partners and invests in ocean ventures to solve the maritime industry’s sustainability challenges. Its managing director Nicolai Grieg said: “There is considerable demand for reduced carbon emissions related to industry projects in Europe, and these ships will be ideal for many of these. The ships’ flexible design enables a potential transition to lower emission fuels upon delivery, provided that the market and infrastructure permit, even though they are not fully capable of zero emissions at present.”
