12 October 2020:  Swedish-based Wallenius Marine AB has become a member of the International Windship Association (IWSA), the not-for-profit organization promoting and facilitating the uptake of wind propulsion for commercial shipping. The move comes on the heels of the company’s unveiling of the newly designed wind-powered vessel, the Oceanbird.
In line with the design, the 200m long, 32,000t car carrier, with a capacity to carry 7,000 vehicles, will be fitted with retractable 80m high wings. The vessel is designed with an average speed of 10 knots under sail power alone and on favourable routes will reduce emissions by up to 90%.
According to IWSA, retrofit wind-assist solutions can deliver up to 20% of the power requirement, and thus the savings in fuel, with the future potential to reach 30%. The association estimates that there will be 40 ships with wind propulsion installed by the end of 2022.
13 October 2020: Manitou Group, a French company specializing in handling, aerial work platforms, and earthmoving, has formalized its partnership with Neoline, a provider of eco-friendly maritime transport services via RoRo cargo ships using sails for main propulsion. The yet-to-be-built wind-powered RoRo cargo vessels will operate on a new transatlantic route between the Atlantic coast of France and the east US / Canada coast.Â
According to the development plan of Neoline’s pilot line, construction of the first ship, which will be 136 meters long and will have a sail surface of 4,200 square meters, will begin in the coming months. A second ship with equivalent specifications will follow as soon as possible to achieve a rate of departure of every two weeks.
05 October 2020: Finnish vessel operator Finnlines has secured a loan of EUR 30 million to finance the acquisition of its three new hybrid cargo ships. Finnlines ordered the environmentally friendly roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel trio in China back in 2018. The construction of the first unit started in June 2020 and the second in September.
The new RoRos will be equipped with high-powered battery banks and photovoltaics, which will allow the ships to use electricity and operate emission-free while docked. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered during 2021–2022 and will operate on routes between Finland and Europe.
Colless Young is a licensed Customs Broker and International Freight Forwarder based in Brisbane. We offer professional shipping and transport services at all Australian ports and airports. We cover all aspects of logistics, including clearance of cargo through customs and quarantine, warehousing and trucking.
