Another AtoB@C Shipping newbuild hits the water
ESL Shipping’s subsidiary AtoB@C Shipping, saw its third 5,350 dwt plug-in hybrid newbuild vessel, Ecomar, hit the water at Chowgule Shipyard. The outfitting, including the final painting, will continue at the outfitting quay.
The launch of Ecomar paves the way for the final block assembly of the fourth vessel, Aquamar. The hull blocks of the vessel will be moved to the slipway for final assembly in the coming weeks.
“Demand for this vessel type from both existing and new clients has been high and we are eagerly waiting for the next vessels to enter service,” says Commercial Director Frida Rowland.
Currently, the shipyard has seven vessels under construction in different stages. The construction of the eighth vessel in the series commenced on December 29 with the steel-cutting ceremony.
Ecomar is expected to be delivered during the second quarter of this year. The order consists of twelve vessels, with the last delivery expected in the second quarter of 2026.
The plug-in hybrid series vessels are Ice Class 1 general cargo ships with a capacity of 5,350 dwt. The company claims the vessels are market leaders in terms of cargo capacity, technology and innovation. The greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, of the new vessels will decrease by almost 50 per cent compared to existing ships, making the vessels the most efficient in the world in their size class, ESL Shipping said.
Furthermore, the company noted that being below the 5,000 gross ton threshold, the new vessels are exempt from the upcoming regulations, specifically the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and EU emission trading system. However, ESL Shipping has taken the initiative to establish an internal reporting system that calculates emissions and the CII-rating for each individual vessel.
