ESL Shipping of Finland took delivery of what is being heralded as the world’s most eco-friendly bulk carrier. The 160m, 25,600dwt, LNG-fuelled vessel, named Haaga (above), was delivered from the Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing, China. The ice-class vessel can also be powered by carbon-free biogas, once the availability of carbon-free biogas improves over time. ESL Shipping says the ship generates less than 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions compared to previous-generation handysize vessels by minimising its energy consumption and emissions.

Maersk Tankers’ has installed two 30m tall and 5m diameter Norsepower rotor sails on the product tanker Maersk Pelican (above) at the port of Rotterdam. The cylindrical mechanical sails spin to create a pressure differential, called the Magnus effect, which propels the vessel forward. They will also be used to provide auxiliary power for the ship, reducing fuel consumption by 7-10%. The sails were installed as part of a project with Maersk Tankers, Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and Shell Shipping & Maritime.

Navig8’s latest 63,338gt/111,000dwt tanker was named Navig8 Prestige JKB at China’s New Times Shipbuilding yard in Jiangsu Province on 13th August. The newbuilding will be operated by Navig8 Product 2020, the company’s new platform dedicated to scrubber-fitted tankers. The 249.9m long/44m beam ship is one of eight LR2 ships to be fitted with scrubbers.

Siem Shipping has cancelled four 7,000 CEU capacity car carriers (PCTCs) at the Uljanik shipyard in Croatia due to the facilitiy’s inability to deliver the vessels according to the contract terms. Hulls 514, 515, 524 and 525 are affected and two of the ships had yet to be started.

Star Bulk Carriers of Greece has finalised the acquisition of sixteen dry bulk vessels from Augustea Atlantica SpA and York Capital Management through an all-share transaction which was agreed in late April 2018. The 16-strong fleet includes five Newcastlemaxes/ Capesize vessels, two Mini Capesize vessels, eight Post Panamax/ Kamsarmax vessels and one Ultramax vessel with an average age of 4.5 years. Once all 16 are delivered, Star Bulk will have a fleet of 90 vessels, with an aggregate capacity of 10.2m dwt.

Stena Bulk’s 97,754gt/2006 built Stena Blue Sky has delivered the first LNG cargo to energy giant ENN’s new terminal in China. The ship made history when she arrived at the new Xin’ao Terminal in Zhoushan, Ninbo region on 8th August 2018. The Zhoushan terminal has a capacity of 3 million tonnes of LNG per year.