Fednav (Belgium) N.V., this week welcomed its next-generation vessel, the Federal Bering at the Port of Antwerp. The recently built ship was there for three days to load a consignment of 20,000 tonnes of steel for ArcelorMittal, ThyssenKrupp and other steel producers. In addition to this steel consignment it also took on project cargo such as dryers, transformers on its way to Chicago and Burns Harbor, Indiana.
The outstanding environmental characteristics of these vessels include:
- 25% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar vessels built less than 15 years ago
- A decrease of over 15% nitrogen oxide emissions
- A B+ rating from shippingefficiency.org
- A CLEAN notation from the DNV/GL classification society
Best known in Antwerp for its FALLine liner service from Europe to the Great Lakes, Fednav currently has a newbuilding program that will see 19 new handysize lakers specially designed for the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes deliver between 2015 and 2018. With 52 Handysize lakers, Fednav, who operates one of the most modern fleets of bulk carriers in the world, will continue to offer customers a regular and reliable service from Europe to North America.
Built at the Oshima shipyard in Japan, the Federal Bering and its sister-ships have box-shaped holds in order to facilitate the handling of general cargo.
The company’s activities are by no means restricted to the St Lawrence Seaway. With a combination of Handysize, Supramax and Ultramax vessels, Fednav also owns and operates two of the most powerful bulk-carrying icebreakers along with the largest ice-class bulker fleet in the world.
“By continuing to expand our fleet and operations, our fleet will be one of the most modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly trading between Europe and North America, especially in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway System,” said Etienne De Vel, Commercial Manager of European operations.
www.fednav.com, www.portofantwerp.com
