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GOING FOR GAS NEWBUILDING • UTKILEN IS AWARE THAT IT CANNOT WAIT FOR DECARBONISATION TO HAPPEN, IT HAS TO MAKE ITS MIND UP ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS NOW NORWAY-BASED CHEMICAL tanker operator Utkilen is investing more than €125m in the decarbonisation process, ordering four new tankers and retrofitting some of its existing fleet with dual-fuel engines. Four 6,700-dwt chemical tankers have been ordered at Shipyard Icdas in Turkey for delivery starting in early 2024. The new ships will be fitted with multi-fuel engines and are designed with an optimised hull form; they will also be constructed so as to be allow the use of battery power and shore power connections, which could make them completely emissions-free. Utkilen notes that much of the equipment for the newbuildings will be sourced from Norwegian suppliers, including Framo,
Wärtsilä, Høglund and Scanjet. The company also notes that there have been very few newbuildings arriving in the shortsea market in northern Europe in recent years. In addition, four modern ships in the existing fleet are to be retrofitted to be able to run on LNG or liquefied biogas (LBG). “We have owners who invest long-term. In a time of great uncertainty in relation to future green technology, we choose to make large investments that will considerably reduce our carbon footprint already in 2022,” says Siri-Anne Mjåtvedt, CEO of Utkilen. “There is currently a lot of talk about hydrogen and ammonia but for us, who transport chemicals primarily in northern Europe, this technology is not ready yet,” Mjåtvedt adds. “We choose to focus on accessible, eco-friendly and flexible technology. Half of our core fleet will be able to use LNG and biogas (LGB) when the newbuildings are delivered.” GOOD FOR THE CUSTOMER That is not to say that Utkilen is ignoring other options. While the newbuildings and retrofitted existing ships will be able to run on
LNG/LBG as well as gasoil, it will keep an eye on the potential use of methanol or ammonia. “Biogas is available in our trade area. With LNG propulsion, we can give our customers the opportunity to reduce the footprint of their cargo by choosing to mix biogas into the fuel,” Mjåtvedt comments. “We also hope that the customers now will follow up with facilitating shore power connection in the ports, so that together we can make our red-painted ships even greener.” Utkilen itself is keen to operate with concern for the environment but it is also alert to the fact that many of its customers are under regulatory of commercial pressure to follow suit. “Utkilen chooses to use expensive but eco-friendly technology also because this is important for our customers,” Mjåtvedt says. “Most of the ships in Utkilen’s fleet are built after our own specification and design, in good quality to be able to operate for almost 30 years. We believe this is a sustainable solution. We are continuously working to reduce the energy consumption of existing ships, as well as building new ships with eco-friendly technology.” Utkilen, headquartered in Bergen, was established in 1967 and currently operates a fleet of 22 chemical tankers ranging in size from 6,000 dwt to 20,000 dwt; most of its work is in northern Europe but four 20,000-dwt stainless steel vessels are active in global trades under the Stream brand. utkilen.no
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