Norwegian shipowner Utkilen welcomed its first vessel from a new generation of environmentally friendly chemical tankers at a christening in China last week.

The 9,900-dwt Mostraum (built 2019) and three sisterships under construction at AVIC Dingheng Shipbuilding promise to cut fuel consumption by 30% and NOx emissions by 80%.

Chief executive Siri-Anne Mjaatvedt said the Mostraum will save 1,300 tonnes of fuel per year compared with more elderly ships.

Energy savings

“[The] Mostraum represents a new age for chemical tankers as the environment, energy savings, efficiency and easy maintenance is given priority in all the solutions for the ship,” she said.

Mjaatvedt also highlighted that the tanker is designed to receive shore power, which means it will not create noise or air pollution while in port, even when loading or unloading, and is LNG ready.

It is the first of four sisterships ordered at AVIC Dingheng, reportedly for $25m each.

Utkilen also has four 19,900-dwt chemical tankers with similar green credentials on order at Japan's Fukuoka Shipbuilding for subsidiary Stream Tankers, which reportedly cost between $33m and $34m each.

In Norway, there has been an increasing focus on the use of batteries for ships, especially cruiseships and ferries, but Mjaatvedt said this was not a viable solution for tankers yet.

Including the Mostraum, Utkilen now has a fleet of 22 chemical tankers on the water.

The Mostraum at its christening Photo: Thale Brekke

The company owns 10 tankers that were built in 2000 or before, and plans to phase them out with newbuildings. Its oldest tanker is the 6,500-dwt Solstraum (built 1990).

No rush

Mjaatvedt said the company is in no rush to sell the elderly ships, claiming that Utkilen was spending as much on its older tankers as on its newer ones.

Shipowner Ove Utkilen controls the outfit through Utkilen Holding, which is worth close to NOK 2bn ($235m). Company chairman Bjorn Sjaastad reduced his shareholding from 5% to 2% by selling shares to Utkilen.

Sjaastad, who was once the chief executive of Frontline Management, also has a 10% stake in Stream Tankers.