Germany’s Hartmann Group is making a big push in the containership segment with a dual-fuel newbuilding order priced at around $372m — but the company has declined to confirm details of the vessels or name the future owner.
The Hamburg-based shipping company is managing a newbuilding contract with China’s Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering Co to construct up to six 3,500-teu ships, according to shipbuilding players. The deal is for three firm vessels with options for an additional three.
Shipbuilding players said the order was placed last month but the deal was not reported. They added that the shipowner started enquiring about newbuildings last year and had approached several shipyards.
State-owned CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry, and Singapore-listed Yangzijiang Shipbuilding were said to have been contacted.
A Taizhou Sanfu official declined to comment, citing contract confidentiality.
A spokesperson for Leer-based Hartmann Group said: “Hartmann together with our partner HB Hunte Engineering developed a special, new eco-friendly type of vessel. We/Hartmann did not place an order for these vessels, but will manage a new building project for an undisclosed owner.”
Hartmann is said to have opted for the type C LNG tank and is scheduled to take delivery of the firm vessels in 2024.
The newbuilding price has not been disclosed but several brokers believe the vessels are costing $62m per ship. They put the current newbuilding price of a conventionally fuelled 3,500-teu ship to be about $50m and it would cost an additional 20% to 30% for a dual-fuel engine.
Shipbuilding players believe Hartmann may be the first shipping company to be involved with an order for a series of sub-panamax containerships in China that will be able to run on LNG and conventional marine fuels.
They believe the European Union’s determination to press ahead with a regional CO2 cap and trade scheme have spurred the order for dual-fuel boxships.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network lists Hartmann with five containerships — two 1,114-teu and three 2,824-teu vessels. If the optional three newbuildings at Taizhou Sanfu are exercised, its aggregate fleet capacity will triple from 10,700 teu to 31,700 teu.
It is the second newbuilding contract that Hartmann has been involved with this year. In June, it signed up for three dual-fuel 40,000-cbm LPG carriers at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding for 2023 delivery. The shipbuilding price was not reported.
Hartmann has also shown an interest in ammonia-fuelled vessels. The company is teaming up with Amsterdam-based ammonia and methanol producer OCI and engine designer MAN Energy Solutions on ammonia-fuelled shipping.
The three companies signed a memorandum of understanding in March, under which OCI will charter ammonia vessels — built, owned and operated by Hartmann and its commercial arm, GasChem Services — that use ammonia engines designed by MAN. Hartmann has yet to order any ammonia-fuel ships.
Located in Jiangsu province of Taizhou city, Taizhou Sanfu is a privately owned shipbuilding company. The shipyard is able to construct vessels up to 100,000 dwt. Currently, its focus is on containerships, multipurpose vessels and bulk carriers.
Taizhou Sanfu has about 30 newbuildings on its orderbook and the shipyard is marketing its 2024 and 2025 berth slots.
