Global energy and commodity group Mercuria and maritime innovator ÈTA Shipping have formed a joint venture that will see the construction of six initial (and ten optional) short sea vessels designed for maximum efficiency. Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering will build the vessels.
The state-of-the-art vessels will be owned by Mare Balticum BV, a subsidiary of Mercuria, with ÈTA Shipping acting as a minority shareholder. The maiden voyage of the first vessel is planned for the second quarter of 2025.
Also read: IMO agrees on net-zero GHG for shipping around 2050
Zero emission
ÈTA Shipping was established to fundamentally rethink the way that cargo ships are designed and built. This to radically improve both their efficiency and the way they operate. The modular design of the ÈTA 6700 vessel means that there is no main engine, instead, an electric motor powers the propeller.
Electricity is supplied by generators which can be fuelled by conventional or low carbon fuels. It is also possible to connect any sustainable power source, such as batteries or fuel cell technology that can run for example on green hydrogen, methanol or ammonia. Zero emission solutions can be added or replace the originally installed generators.
Founded by Sam Gombra and Walter van Gruijthuijsen, the name ÈTA Shipping comes from the Greek letter η (ÈTA), the symbol used for efficiency, which was the key concept in the vessel design.
Modular approach
‘The modular design of the vessels allows for an easy replacement of a power source, which can be anything as long as it produces electricity,’ explains Gombra. ‘We estimate that it will take less than a day to remove the existing power generation system and replace it, fully or partially, without the need for a shipyard.’
The ÈTA 6700’s efficient design has been achieved without compromising speed or cargo carrying capacity, and at a comparable new build cost versus conventional vessels. It has a cargo carrying capacity of 7400 tonnes deadweight, but is just under 5000 gross tonnage and can achieve 10.5 knots fully laden at under 900 kW of power. This makes it the most efficient ice class 1A vessel in its peer group.
Also read: DEKC develops cargo vessel with modular engine room
Autonomous
Automation also plays a big part in the efficiency gains and safer maritime operations when compared to traditional vessels. As a result, the ship can be safely managed with a reduced crew size of four, instead of six.
‘The vessel’s 3D management tool that uses over 1300 sensors, enables virtual navigation, equipment data access, and historical trend analysis for crew and technical staff,’ notes Van Gruijthuijsen.
Energy transition
The investment in ÈTA Shipping and the new shipbuilding series of ÈTA 6700 vessels gives Mercuria a platform to accelerate the transition to zero carbon shipping and is consistent with their energy transition agenda.
‘Three features make these vessels truly unique: future-proof design, efficiency, and automation. Designed with the efficiency in mind, ÈTA vessels are already thirty per cent more efficient than a conventional newbuild and about fifty per cent more efficient than the average ship in the legacy fleet,’ states Mindaugas Gogelis, Energy Transition Director of Mercuria.
At a time when there is a high degree of uncertainty about the future cost and availability of zero-carbon maritime fuels, it is imperative to maintain the flexibility of choice of future technology.
Larry Johnson, Global Head of Freight and Shipping Trading of Mercuria: ‘The embedded flexibility in the ÈTA 6700 design will allow us to offer a tailored decarbonisation pathway optimised to the specific needs of cargo owner or operator. We can go as fast as technical solutions become commercially available.’
Also read: ‘Shipping needs certainty and quota when it comes to renewable fuels’
Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering
Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering was selected for the construction of the ÈTA 6700 vessels because of their flexible and innovative approach. The shipyard sees this cooperation as a great opportunity to bring ÈTA Shipping’s innovative vessel design to reality and contribute towards sustainable short sea shipping.
