German Yard In Canadian Pact

The Canadian firm has signed a memorandum of understanding with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) with the remit of drawing up an innovative design of climate-neutral, ultra-efficient con-ro carrier, seen as critical to vessel replacement planning. A high-ranking German business delegation trip to Canada provided the backdrop for the initiative.

Oceanex and FSG are no strangers to one another, a relationship having been forged through the construction of the 210m con-ro Oceanex Connaigra, delivered from Flensburg in 2013, and a mainstay of a regular service linking Montreal and St John’s, Newfoundland, for containers, trailers and motor vehicles.

Under the new pact, the two concerns intend to investigate the utilisation of alternative fuels, such as ammonia, methanol, synthetic and biofuels, as well as hydrogen, and the related technologies in mind of the Oceanex operational area. The company’s core business is the maintenance of an intermodal service network linking Mexico, the USA and mainland Canada with the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The project will give expression to resurgent FSG’s strategy that champions comprehensive life-cycle analysis, linking long-term economic and ecological perspectives at the start of the newbuild planning stage. “As a shipyard, we have ambitious goals to become a major pillar of the energy transition,” affirmed FSG managing director Philipp Maracke. “FSG has already positioned itself as an innovation leader for low-emission ship designs in the past. Building on our references and expertise, we want to be a driver when it comes to energy transition in shipping,” he added.

For Oceanex, ‘sustainability’ is viewed as essential to its future standing among customers, as the complement to cost competitiveness and reliability. “Building our fleet of vessels to ensure we’re leveraging the latest technologies and the most environmentally friendly fuel sources is critical for Oceanex,” affirmed the company’s executive chairman Sid Hynes.

The FSG-built Oceanex Connaigra is a unique vessel tailored to the needs of year-round trade in eastern Canada, and melds ro-ro capabilities with the lo-lo mode at an unusually high deadweight capacity of 19,460t. At the time, nine years ago, the vessel was also technically distinguished by the adoption of a German-developed exhaust gas cleaning system to ensure unfettered operation under Norther American sulphur emission control area edicts.

The main engine installation is of German derivation, in the shape of two MAN common-rail diesels of the L48/60CR type, producing 16,800kW all-told. The transmission allows for single engine propulsion, and a declutched main engine can be used in PTO mode to generate electrical power for heated containers, refrigerated units and other needs.

Having been purchased out of insolvency in 2020 by Lars Windhorst’s Tennor Holding, FSG has seen a steady revival. The first launch since the yard’s economic restart took place in June this year, with the 210m trailership Tennor Ocean being sent down the ways, and work has started on a new 3,800 lane-metre ro-ro freight vessel for past Australian client SeaRoad.

While ranking among the world’s most prolific builders of ro-ro equipped vessels, and continuing to tap that expertise, FSG has embarked on a diversification strategy including the naval, super-yacht, and special-purpose commercial vessel sectors.