Swedish shipowner Furetank has teamed up with Canada’s Algoma Central to order four LNG-powered tankers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou.
FureBear, a 50/50 joint venture between the two firms would own these vessels, according to a Furetank statement issued on Tuesday.
The joint venture would advance Algoma’s presence in international short sea shipping markets and strengthen the company’s investment in long-term sustainable shipping solutions, it said.
Fuertank said it has designed the four dual-fuel ice-class 1A 17,999-dwt product tankers in collaboration with FKAB Marine Design and several onboard system suppliers, with energy efficiency at the forefront of the planning process.
Also, the FureBear vessels will be sisters to the Vinga series of eight vessels currently trading in the Gothia Tanker Alliance.
Furetank has recently ordered the 11th LNG-powered vessel in this series at the Chinese yard.
The Vinga sisters all have dual-fuel capability and run on LNG/LBG or gasoil.
They have a battery hybrid solution and several “innovative” features that reduce fuel and energy consumption, resulting in “extensively” lower emissions of CO2, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide and hazardous particles.
These vessels are also fully equipped for shore power.
China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou will deliver the four new vessels between 2023 and 2025.
Furetank did not provide the price tag of the order.
Upon completion, all four vessels will enter into the Gothia Tanker Alliance, while Furetank will operate them out of Gothenburg, Sweden.