ForestWave Navigation has granted Ferus Smit Shipyards the order for building two new project cargo vessels of the Ecobox XL type. The Ecobox XL design enables loading and transporting extra-long items, such as windmill blades, while at the same time  maintaining her good capabilities as a normal general cargo ship. The design is such that it further enhances her excellent ‘green’ performance with a reduction of her EEDI-score to a new class reference standard.

Groningen based ForestWave Navigation Group has been founded in 2003 and growing rapidly since 2011. Today, they commercially operate 35 MPP vessels in the range of 6,000 to 12,500 DWT. The two Ecobox XL vessels are the first orders they placed with Ferus Smit and both parties are convinced this will lead to a successful collaboration for the years to come.

The main characteristics of the Ecobox XL ships will be as follows:

• Maximum loading capacity about 12.500 DWT;
• Box shaped single hold, including complete movable tweendeck, resulting in large floor space for project cargoes, allowing for loading cargoes with a length of 100 mtr. on tanktop and 112 mtr. on tweendecks;
• Two 85 tons cargo cranes;
• Open top notation;
• Ice class 1A;
• Deckhouse placed on the fore ship. This gives shelter to the hold and deck cargoes against severe weather conditions and enables oversize deck cargoes to be loaded over the stern;
• The Ferus Smit bulbless Canoe type bow, designed to reduce fuel costs and better sustained speed with excellent sea keeping behaviour in harsh weather and sea state conditions;
• Tier III, 3.300 kW main engine, driving a nozzled controllable pitch propeller running in fully automatic combinator mode. The fuel system will also be suitable for bio blend;
• Green Passport;
• ORC waste heat generator integrated in the propulsion system for further reduction of fuel consumption and ultra-low EEDI.

The ships are planned for delivery in 2024/2025.