Nordic consortium lanch biomethane-fueled ships in Norway

In Norway, NCL (North Sea Container Line AS) together with partners Elkem ASA, and MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC), initiated the operation of NCL VESTLAND in Haugesund, Norway. This marks the commencement of the vessel’s service between Western, Central and Northern Norway and Rotterdam.  

The container feeder vessel is the first of two MPCC-owned ships, chartered by NCL and commissioned by Elkem, to enable more effective and environmentally friendly transportation of Norwegian goods and critical metals and materials to European and international markets.  

NCL VESTLAND and NCL NORDLAND are the first ships powered with bio-methanol in operations in Norway. They are designed in Norway by NCL, with support from the NOx fund and Norwegian Enova.  Elkem owns 40 per cent of NCL.  

The innovative vessel design enables a significant increase in freight capacity and a 63 per cent reduction in energy consumption per TEU per nautical mile compared to existing fleet. The two ships will replace three conventional container ships, while at the same time increasing total capacity and traffic stability, resulting in a significant reduction of overall emissions. The ships are designed for dual-fuel utilisation, i.e. conventional fuel and bio-methanol, paving the way for a net-zero future. 

NCL has signed an agreement with Equinor for sourcing of the bio-methanol, bunkering in Norway. This agreement enables NCL VESTLAND and NCL NORDLAND to ship carbon neutral TEUs as of first day of operation.