Canadian bulker owner CSL Group has made a move into offshore shipping with a new order and joint venture.
It said it has formed Rotterdam-based CSL OWL Subsea Rock Installation with Dutch marine contractor Offshore Wind Logistics (OWL).
The venture has ordered two subsea rock installation vessels tailored for the offshore renewable energy sector.
No shipyard or price has yet been revealed.
The 17,500-dwt ships will come with dynamic positioning.
They are due in August and November 2026.
The pair is designed to be dual-fuel, running on gasoil and methanol, providing a pathway to zero-emission operations, the companies said.
“Purpose-built for optimal flexibility, these vessels will deliver efficient and cost-effective subsea rock installation services in water depths up to 100 metres,” they added.
The transport belts are designed to handle rocks weighing up to 1,500 kg, with a side chute available for larger gradings.
CSL, headquartered in Montreal, has 43 bulkers, from small handysizes up to panamax size, with two supramaxes and a handysize on order
Reducing energy and emissions
The joint venture’s chief executive, Maarten van der Giessen, said: “We are committed to providing tailor-made capacity to the fast-growing offshore renewable sector.
“This will support the sector’s ambitions of ramping up installed capacity, reducing the levelised cost of energy … and minimising emissions.”
In April, CSL took a 50% stake in Norwegian shipowner Peak Group, with newbuildings likely to follow.
The aim is to target European growth and offshore wind diversification.
The new strategic alliance brought together the two companies’ shortsea shipping operations in northern Europe.
Peak owns seven multipurpose and general cargo ships.
Through charters, it operates between 20 and 30 dry cargo, project and self-discharging vessels at any one time, ranging from 1,000 dwt to 6,000 dwt.
