NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers has inked an order for what it claims is the world’s largest cement carrier.
The deal with a Chinese shipyard is the owner’s first move for methanol-powered newbuildings.
The Lugano-based company has ordered a 38,000-dwt dual-fuel methanol-ready cement carrier with China’s Zhejiang Xinle Shipbuilding Co.
The vessel is expected for delivery at the end of 2026 and has been ordered on the back of a long-term contract, the company said in a statement.
Financial details have not been disclosed by NovaAlgoma, which is a joint venture between Switzerland-based Nova Marine Group and Canada’s Algoma Central Corp.
“This highly valuable new entry implements the Group’s fleet development strategy and is aimed to address the significant increase of cement demand we expect in the years to come,” said Nova Marine chief executive Vincenzo Romeo.
He added that the order will “definitely strengthen our position among the world’s leaders in the cement carrier sector with 35 units active worldwide”.
The newbuilding will be the company’s first methanol dual-fuel cement carrier. Other vessels in the company’s cement fleet are dual-fuel LNG.
It will be manned by 21 crew members and classed by Italian classification society RINA.
Other features include an air lubricating system and a heat recovery system, which will recycle exhaust gases to generate electricity.
“For our group, it represents a milestone, it is a tangible sign of our concrete and strong efforts towards a green fleet and makes ourselves proud of such trailblazing solutions,” Romeo said.
Founded by Giovanni Romeo, who made his first bulker purchase in 1981, Nova Marine is run today by his family and headed by his son, Vincenzo.
Nova Marine, regarded as a busy and canny asset player in the secondhand market, also has joint ventures with Italian peer Navigazione Montanari.
