Dutch-built cement carrier for Great Lakes

The 12,500dwt cement bulker, self-reliant in cargo handling by virtue of mechanical/pneumatic systems, has been designed to replace two older vessels, while maintaining the same transportation capacity.

The construction deal is a coup for Holland Shipyards Group, underscoring its venture into new and specialised market sectors. An early delivery undertaking has been entered into, such that hull fabrication is already under way with a view to handover within the first half of 2025.

Designed and engineered in-house by the Dutch contractor, the newbuild will be of 123m x 23m main dimensions and will reflect Eureka’s expertise as owner and commercial operator of a dedicated cement bulker fleet spanning the 3,000-23,000dwt range. The North American dimension to the company’s latest investment project arises from Eureka’s joint ownership by Montreal-headquartered CSL Group, partnering SMT Shipping of Cyprus.

“Our new cement carrier is expected to contribute significantly to decarbonisation by drastically reducing the emissions per metric tonne of cargo carried,” asserted Eureka managing director Kai Grotterud. The diesel-electric power and propulsion setup will encompass four diesel generators, rated at 940kWe apiece and two rudder propellers, each of 1,300kW, producing maximum thrust through the full 360-degrees of rotation.

The arrangements denote a bid to achieve the most efficient solution, combining power and manoeuvrability, while also realising goals as to sustainability. The prime movers will be of a type offering the capability to run on hydrotreated vegetable oil(HVO) fuel. The multi-genset configuration confers not only operational versatility across the ship’s service profile, but also redundancy as regards both navigation and cargo working.

In the interim, prior to the newbuild’s arrival in Canada, Eureka’s 8,600dwt mechanical/pneumatic cement bulker Sunnanvik has recently been redeployed from intra-European trade to the Great Lakes region. Equipped with modified equipment tailored to the customer’s receiving terminals, the vessel can discharge cargo at rates up to 1,000t per hour.

Built in 1978, Sunnanvik was retrofitted with two Econowind vertical Ventofoil wing sails during 2023. Conditions permitting, the propulsion-assist system will be tested on the Great Lakes.