In Norway, Heidelberg Materials Norway has secured a decade-long charter for a methanol-powered cement carrier, set to enter service in early 2028. Designed and operated by Germany’s Hartmann Group, the vessel will run primarily on green methanol and is expected to cut annual CO₂ emissions by up to 6,000 tons on routes linking Brevik with Oslo, Bergen, Kristiansand, and Stavanger.
The project was one of six proposals in a competitive tender and was made commercially viable by a 60 million kroner grant from Norway’s NOx Fund. “This is a tangible result of public-private cooperation,” said NOx Fund director Tommy Johnsen, calling the vessel a new benchmark in low-emission coastal shipping.
Green Shipping Programme, which advised Heidelberg, praised the deal as proof that diverse low- and zero-emission technologies including batteries, ammonia, and methanol can all accelerate the transition.
Knut Omreng, logistics director at Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe, said the ship improves efficiency while slashing emissions by 80 percent. Hartmann CEO Niels Hartmann added, “We are proud to be part of this initiative, which shows how cargo owners and shipowners together can drive innovation in low-emission transport.” The ship will be technically managed by InterMaritime Ltd and built in China.
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Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
