Mercuria, ÈTA Shipping team up to build six electric vessels
Swiss commodity trading firm Mercuria and Dutch maritime technology company ÈTA Shipping have partnered to build six electric short sea vessels.
PHOTO: Mercuria and ÈTA Shipping’s electric short sea vessel concept. Mercuria
The 7,400-dwt vessels will feature no main engine and will be instead powered by electric motors. The electric motors can be fuelled by conventional or low-carbon fuels. These motors can also run on alternative power sources, such as batteries or use fuel-cell technology that can be powered by green hydrogen, methanol, or ammonia.
The vessels are modelled on ÈTA Shipping’s modular ship design.
“The modular design of the vessels allows for an easy replacement of a power source, which can be anything as long as it produces electricity,” ÈTA Shipping’s co-founder Sam Gombra says.
The vessels’ “efficient design has been achieved without compromising speed or cargo carrying capacity,” Mercuria claims.
With this partnership, the duo aims “to accelerate the transition to sustainable short-sea shipping.”
The vessels will be built by Chinese shipbuilder Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering and will be owned by Mercuria’s subsidiary, Mare Balticum.
Mercuria anticipates the maiden voyage of the first vessel to commence in the second quarter of 2025.
The companies have an option to place additional orders for 10 more newbuilds.
By Tuhin Roy
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