SMC News

SMC is pleased to announce Delivery of 1,023 TEU container vessel, Hull No. SB676 (mv ”SITC YIHE“) at Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Ltd, Korea. This is the sixth vessel in a series of ten vessels ordered by SITC Shipowning Group Co., Ltd, China.

The vessel will be classed by ABS and built to Hong Kong flag requirements, scheduled to be delivered on 15th December 2023.

SMC is pleased to announce Steel Cutting of heavy lift vessel, Hull No. VZJ449-2302 at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard, China. This is the second vessel in a series of two vessels ordered by Concordia Damen – Amasus.

The vessel classed by RINA and complying to Dutch flag requirements, is scheduled to be delivered in 2025.

The Schulte Group’s ship owning arm Bernhard Schulte announced the expansion of its fleet portfolio by ordering its first liquid CO2 tanker. The newbuilding project will be executed at Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore (DSOC), China and will feature innovative technologies significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Vessel’s delivery is planned in 2026, with commercial commitment long-term time charter agreement with Northern Lights to support the development of the world’s first cross-border liquid CO2 transport and storage infrastructure.

The newbuilding ordered now is the first ship of this type for the Bernhard Schulte fleet and the fourth liquid CO₂ carrier for Northern Lights. Northern Lights – the joint venture between Shell, TotalEnergies and Equinor, has already ordered three vessels, two under construction at DSOC and third one ordered in September this year.

“Ordering this vessel is an exciting step in the expansion of Bernhard Schulte’s fleet portfolio in an innovative future tanker segment. We are looking forward to becoming part of this Northern Lights industry leading project to provide CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure. We are furthermore delighted to have Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore as our selected partner in this endeavor. The Schulte Group has long-standing relationships with Chinese shipyards, which is a strong foundation for this outstanding project,” says Ian Beveridge, CEO of Bernhard Schulte.

All four ships are sister vessels with the same vessel design and have a cargo capacity of 7,500 m³. Custom-built for transportation of liquid CO2, these ships are the first of their kind and will safely transport liquid CO₂ from Northern Lights’ customers across Northwest Europe to the CO₂ receiving terminal at Øygarden, Norway before permanent geological storage.

“This deal marks another major milestone for us. Carbon capture system is a safe and efficient way to handle emissions and it is critical to meet climate targets. We are excited to see Bernhard Schulte now entering the liquid CO₂ business, as strong partnerships are required to succeed. We have strong belief in the tripart collaboration between Northern Lights JV, DSOC and Bernhard Schulte,” says Børre Jacobsen, Managing Director of Northern Lights.

Northern Lights is developing a ship-based liquid CO₂ transport solution and has implemented innovative technologies in the ship design to reduce the CO₂ emissions from shipping. The primary fuel for the ships will be LNG. Combined with other proven technologies, such as wind-assisted rotor sail and air lubrication, the ships will have around 34% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional ships running on marine fuel.

“As the most experienced offshore yard in China, we are glad to form such first-ever cooperation relationship with Bernhard Schulte and jointly provide our services to contribute Northern Lights CCS projects. DSOC is confident to deliver the vessel on time with highest quality and HSE standards. It is indeed a great honour to be part of this collaboration by providing our Liquefied CO₂ transportation solutions,” says Yingzhi Sun, President of DSOC.

Facts about the ship

• Capacity: 7,500 m³liquid CO₂
• Two cylindrical cargo tanks
• Length: 130 meters
• Cargo transport conditions: maximum 19 bar(g) pressure and minimum -35°C temperature
• 34% lower carbon footprint than ships on conventional fuel
• LNG Dual Fuel, wind-assisted rotor sail and air lubrication

Our title image shows the signing of the newbuilding contract for Bernhard Schulte’s first CO₂ ship. On the left we see Ms. Dongqing He, Representative of Bernhard Schulte (and Commercial Director of Schulte Marine Concept) and on the right, Mr. Yingzhi Sun, President of DSOC.

SMC is pleased to announce the Launching of 2,400 TEU container vessel, Hull No. YZJ2015-2225 at New Yangzi Shipbuilding (Changbo Shipyard), China. This is the 2nd vessel in a series of 2 x 2,400 TEU container vessels ordered by C.U. Lines Ltd, China.

The vessel will be classed by LR and built to Singapore flag requirements, scheduled to be delivered at the end of February 2024.

SMC is pleased to announce Steel Cutting of 696 TEU container vessel, Hull No. XL-206 at Ningbo Xinle Shipyard, China. This is the fourth vessel in a series of four vessels (588 TEU * 2 vessels + 696 TEU * 2 vessels) ordered by PT Perusahaan Pelayaran Nusantara Panurjwan, Indonesia.

The vessel will be classed by ABS and built to Panama flag requirements, scheduled to be delivered on 30th November 2024.

SMC is pleased to announce Launching of 63,500 DWT bulk carrier, Hull No. CX0673 at Chengxi Shipbuilding, China. This is the fourth vessel in a series of eight vessels ordered by Huaxia Financial Leasing Co., Ltd, China.

The vessel will be classed by ABS and built to the flag of Marshall Islands, was delivered on 1st February 2024.

SMC is pleased to announce Steel Cutting of LakeMax General Cargo 37,000 DWT, Hull No. BC37K-5 at DSIC Shanhaiguan Shipbuilding Industry, China. This is the fifth vessel in a series of twelfth vessels ordered by Polsteam, Poland.

The vessel will be classed by LR and built to Malta flag requirements, scheduled to be delivered on 03rd December 2024.

Aiming to both advance and deepen the internal knowledge pool, Schulte Marine Concept initiated a series of training sessions for its personnel.

The training session focused on hull structure critical points and welding held in Chinese language was carried out with the second batch of trainees – hull supervisors, gathered on September 23-24 in SMC Shanghai headquarter.

The training was provided by experts from Lloyd’s Register China, mainly focusing on hull structure critical points and related welding topics, including welding theory, explaining, and understanding welding positions, welding of various materials, visual examination of welding and welding defects, welders and welding procedures qualification, vessel construction monitoring plan, and inspections for hull construction.

The two-day training was highly interactive and entraining, denoting a great interest of the participants not to surf over the topics, but to dive deeply into the matters presented to them.

Further training is scheduled for 2024, covering not only hull structure, but also machinery and electrical systems, including alternative fuels.

SMC has made headway with other offshore wind newbuilding projects in 2023:

• Delivery of one 1,600-Ton Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (mv “ZHAO SHANG CHENG FENG”) for China Merchants Commerce Financial Leasing, built by China Merchants Heavy Industries, China.
• Launching of two SOVs ordered by Shanghai Electric Group and built in ZPMC, China making the first time SOVs built in Asia. These two vessels are scheduled to be delivered Q4 2023 and Q1 2024 respectively. First vessel is currently performing sea trials.
• SMC is also thrilled to share that we have been awarded  2 contracts for site supervision of  total 5 Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) from European client.

SMC is proud to announce the delivery of the second world’s largest double-ended roll-on roll-off ferry, the “P&O Liberté” at Guangzhou International Shipyard China, on November 29, 2023.

“P&O Liberté” is the sister vessel to “P&O Pioneer” delivered earlier this year at the same shipyard. These state-of-art vessels designed for 1,500 passengers are driven by four Azipods powered by diesel-electric system and batteries. Current capacity of the batteries provides peak shaving function, and “zero emission in port operations”. The two vessels ordered by P&O Ferries, UK, are highly efficient in increasing the number of passengers and reducing the operating turnaround time.

“P&O Liberté” was built under the DNV-GL Classification and will operate under the Cyprus flag registered in Limassol. She will be operated on the Dover – Calais route.

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