Netherlands-based Longship Group has expanded its orderbook in partnership with Norwegian shipowner Wagle Chartering.
The Dutch owner said the move to build two GS Eco-Freighter 3700 ships at GS Yard in Waterhuizen continues the “strategy to renew and to optimise our fleet”.
The fuel-efficient general cargo ships feature single open-top box-shaped holds of about 181,000 cbf.
They will be equipped with two bulkheads that can be used as tweendecks.
The newbuildings will carry grain, timber and project cargoes, propelled by an IMO Tier III-compliant Mitsubishi S12R engine.
No price has been revealed for the vessels.
“The eco-friendly design will contribute to our group’s commitment to drastically improve our environmental impact and carbon footprint,” Longship said.
Wagle will handle the commercial operation, while Longship Management will be technical and crew manager.
Longship will call the Dutch-flag ships the Longsun and Longsky.
Delivery is set for the second quarter of this year.
The order follows on from one placed by Longship in January last year for four diesel-electric cargo vessels.
Turkish order
The quartet of 8,600-dwt shortsea ships will be delivered from spring 2024 by Atlas Shipyard in Turkey.
The owner of 16 other multipurpose and general cargo vessels already has two 6,000-dwt newbuildings on order at Veka Shipyard Lemmer in the Netherlands.
The Atlas vessels can be retrofitted to run on alternative fuels and will be prepared by the yard to use methanol.
Groningen-based Longship was founded in 2009 under the name NedNor and has its roots in Norway and the Netherlands.
Moss-based Wagle operates six small cargo ships.
