Chinese shipbuilder Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding and NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers, the world’s largest cement carrier owner, formally signed a contract for the construction of the second 38,000DWT cement carrier.
In June this year, Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding signed an order with NovaAlgoma for 1+2 38,000DWT methanol-reserved cement carriers. The first vessel will be classed by RINA and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2026. The current contract is for one of the optional vessels.
According to NovaAlgoma, the first vessel contracted in July has been granted a long term charter.
The vessel is the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly cement carrier. It adopts a methanol dual-fuel reserved design, is 179.9 meters long, 31 meters wide, has a designed draft of 9.5 meters, is equipped with a circulating waste heat recovery generator set ORC-WHR, and will also adopt a bubble drag reduction system.
The vessel’s propulsion system will be provided by Wärtsilä, including two Wärtsilä 32 engines, one Wärtsilä 25 auxiliary engine, two gearboxes, two adjustable pitch propellers, one tunnel thruster, three selective catalytic reduction (SCR) exhaust aftertreatment systems, a propulsion control system, two shaft generators (PTO/PTI) and engine accessories. The equipment is scheduled to be delivered starting in November 2025.
NovaAlgoma is a joint venture between Luxembourg-based Nova Marine Carriers SA (Nova) and Canada-based Algoma Central Corporation (Algoma), operating a fleet of 28 cement carriers and 18 coastal small bulk carriers.
NovaAlgoma has been cooperating with Xinle Shipbuilding for 20 years and has placed orders for more than 48 vessels of various types with Xinle Shipbuilding.