Dutch owner JR Shipping has set out to return to the shortsea dry cargo sector with two diesel-electric newbuilds to be built at Chowgule Shipbuilding in India.
The Harlingen-based group will be adding 8,500 dwt ships with delivery scheduled for the end of June 2027 and the end of February 2028.
The newbuildings are part of the eight-ship order Dutch shortsea specialist Boomsma Shipping and Germany’s Leonhardt & Blumberg Shipmanagement placed in late 2023 and in which JR Shipbrokers & Consultants, part of JR Shipping Group, acted as matchmaker and newbuilding broker.
JR Shipping, which operates in the container feeder and crew transfer vessel segments, said the move is part of the group’s broader strategy to enhance its fleet and that investment in these new low-emission vessels underscores its “dedication to sustainable practices and its proactive approach to meeting the future demands of maritime logistics”.
The vessels developed in cooperation with Dutch designer Conoship will come with optimised diesel-electric propulsion, ready for lifetime expansion and future fuels. They will require 50%–60% less propulsion energy compared to existing tonnage and be prepared for wind-assisted propulsion, carbon capture and emission-free operation on batteries.
JR Shipping paused its shortsea dry cargo business in 2019 after selling the last 5,000 dwt vessel in the fleet but has since maintained its ambition to come back to this market.
“With extensive knowledge and experience in dry cargo shipping embedded within the organisation, the company is well-equipped to re-enter this market segment,” JR Shipping said, adding that the strategic decision reflects its “vision to become a progressive, all-round shipping group”.
