ESL Shipping’s subsidiary AtoB@C Shipping is making progress with the construction of its 12 plug-in hybrid coasters. The vessels are on order at the Chowgule Shipyard in India, and the second unit, Stellamar, has been just launched.

“I would like to thank all parties involved in this successful project. It is great to be back here at Chowgule Shipyard and witness the great progress with the construction of these state-of-the-art vessels. Our customers’ need for a modern and sustainable fleet is increasing day by day and we are happy that we can answer that demand shortly”, says Commercial Director Frida Rowland.

Currently, the shipyard is full of activity as construction progresses on six vessels at various stages. The first vessel, Electramar, is nearing completion and is undergoing the final phases of outfitting. Following the successful launch, the hull sections of the Ecomar will be moved to the slipway for assembly. The steel cutting for the sixth vessel, Terramar, commenced in late June, while the fifth vessel, Maximar, had its keel laid at the end of July.

Electramar is expected to be ready for delivery this autumn, marking the beginning of a consistent flow of new vessels to AtoB@C Shipping’s fleet. Every three months, a new vessel will follow, until all twelve units are delivered. The final vessel is estimated to be completed 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.