Moeve partners with RFOcean to introduce ultra-efficient, fuel-flexible chemical tankers

Image: RFOcean

Spain-based biofuel producer Moeve, formerly known as Cepsa, announced Feb. 24 that it has signed a contract with Norwegian tanker owner RFOcean for a series of ultra-efficient chemical tankers.

The vessels, which are due for delivery between this year and next, will be among the most modern chemical tankers built, according to Moeve.

This new generation of 6,600 deadweight-tonnage (DWT) IMO2 tankers are equipped with stainless-steel cargo tanks and methanol-fuel-ready notation.

The main propulsion system in this series of ships will be an electric motor powered by generators instead of a conventional main engine, which creates the flexibility for a wide range of operating speeds, and also possibilities for multifuel propulsion including the use of biofuels, Moeve stated.

In addition, the design has the potential for exchanging diesel generators with fuel cells or battery-driven generators. 

They are already about 30 percent more fuel efficient compared to the aging fleet and have Ice Class 1A for maximum trading flexibility.

“We are glad to partner with RFOcean and bring these advanced vessels into our fleet,” said Alice Acuña, Moeve’s executive vice president of trading.

“These state-of-the-art, truly fuel-flexible vessels will be at the forefront of the maritime industry’s continued steps to reduce its environmental impact and advance cleaner-energy alternatives,” Acuña said. “This move is fully aligned with Moeve’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions and those of its customers, and to become a leading provider of clean marine solutions this decade.”

Moeve is a leading supplier of marine fuel solutions including biofuels, with a current production capacity of over 1 million metric tons.

The company plans to more than double its biofuels production capacity to 2.5 million tons by 2030 as it increases its second-generation biofuels capacity in southern Spain.

It is also developing two large-scale green-hydrogen plants with a total equivalent production capacity of 2 gigawatts as part of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley that will include production facilities for green ammonia and green methanol.

As a recent member of the World Economic Forum’s “First Movers Coalition,” Moeve is fully committed to helping to develop both the low-carbon fuels and the vessels that will be required to decarbonize global shipping.

“We are striving to provide our clients with the best innovations while putting an emphasis on developing more sustainable solutions for the shipping industry,” said RFOcean CEO Frederik Rye-Florentz.

“As part of this commitment, we are very pleased to work closely with Moeve as these vessels will offer cleaner-fuel alternatives and bring us a step closer towards decarbonization and the 2050 net-zero emissions targets,” Rye-Florentz added.