Gas tanker specialist Anthony Veder has concluded what it describes as the first sustainable shipping loan. The EUR66m private placement was inked with ABM AMRO as sole arranger and Delta Lloyd Asset Management as sole investor.
The loan is fully certified according to the Clean Shipping Index Guidelines by Bureau Veritas, which also verified the sustainable credentials of this transaction.
“This is a landmark transaction in the global shipping industry which to date, has not joined the ranks of verified sustainable financing,” the tanker firm said in a release.
The 20-year loan will go towards the financing of an 18,000 cu m ice class LNG carrier to be named Coral EnergICE, a gas fuelled ship. The vessel will be on a long-term time charter contract with Finland’s Gasum to serve its 100% subsidiary Skangas.
Commented Merijn Hougee from the Clean Shipping Index: “This is a unique deal. ABN AMRO and Delta Lloyd are the first financial institutions to perform a thorough sustainability assessment of a ship design during the loan approval process. Investing in clean ships is a key driver for enhancing the environmental development of the maritime industry and sets a good example for other banks and investors.”
