Boomsma Shipping and Leonhardt & Blumberg have put an order for four plus four shortsea dry cargo vessels at the Chowgule Yard Group. In close cooperation with Conoship International, Boomsma Shipping developed a next-generation, low-emissions shortsea dry cargo vessel type of 8.500 tons.

At an early stage of the project development, Hamburg-based Leonhardt & Blumberg became a project partner. Known for their strong position in the container vessel market and the product tanker market Leonhardt & Blumberg has decided to diversify into the shortsea dry cargo vessel market as well.

Leonhardt & Blumberg partnered with Boomsma and JR Shipbrokers & Consultants who acted as matchmakers and newbuild brokers.

The two owners jointly ordered a series of four plus four vessels with Chowgule Shipbuilding in India. Chowgule will build these vessels at their new shipyard in Mangalore which will start production in spring 2024 once the yard facility has been modernized.

The 8,500 dwt vessels will feature a single 13,900 cbm single hold, optimised diesel-electric propulsion fit for lifetime expansion and future fuels.

From autumn 2025 onwards the vessels will be delivered either to Boomsma Shipping or Leonhardt & Blumberg. Once in service, the vessels will all be commercially operated in a pool by NewTide Chartering in Rotterdam, part of the Boomsma group.

Johan Boomsma of Boomsma Shipping, said, “Climate change can no longer be ignored and ‘change of course’ is absolutely necessary. Regulations to achieve a greener shipping industry are coming into force. For the short term, our focus is on fuel consumption reduction. As a consequence, emissions are lowered.”